Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease. The prevalence of dental caries among 3-year-old infants and young children in China was as high as 50.8%. Caregivers played a crucial role in the dental care of infants and young children, as they could prevent dental problems in infants by adopting appropriate family dental care behavior. This study employed the Information-Motivation-Behavioral skills (IMB) model to explore the experiences of caregivers of Chinese infants and young children during the dental care process, which may inform and enhance future dental care practices. METHOD: The study was conducted in Qingdao in 2024. Using purposeful sampling, 31 caregivers of infants and young children were recruited from the stomatology and child health departments of a Grade III Class A hospital in Qingdao, China. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted using an interview guide developed based on the IMB model. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three major themes emerged: (1) Information, including dental care expertise and perceptions of etiology and prognosis; (2) Motivation, encompassing the perception of importance, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, social support, economic factors, and emotional drivers for dental care; and (3) Behavioral Skills, involving professional skills, communication skills, as well as the ability to acquire and discriminate dental care information. CONCLUSION: In the practice of infant and young children's dental care, a distinct difference exists between the caries-affected group and the caries-free group, indicating that caregivers continue to encounter numerous challenges and unmet demands. Medical staff providers should design personalized health education and guidance programs tailored to primary caregivers' preferences and the varying caries risk levels among infants. Moreover, when formulating dental health promotion strategies, it is crucial to take into account the developmental characteristics of infants and young children across different age groups and implement targeted nursing interventions accordingly.