INVOLVEMENT OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS IN ENSURING CHILDREN’S DENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH: ANALYSIS AND PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Introduction: Strengthening the dental public health (DPH) of the pediatric population requires prioritizing development with the identification of key stakeholders and their leading functions. The aim. To analyze the current state and identify prospects for intra-industry and inter-sectoral cooperation in the process of strengthening the dental public health of the child population to justify ways of optimization. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study using expert assessments involving 15 highly competent experts (competence level above 0.85) was conducted through a specially designed program. Bibliosemantic and sociological methods were employed. Expert assessments and stakeholder mapping were performed, visualizing the «authority-interest» relationship of different interested groups on a two-dimensional model. The results were analyzed using standard statistical methods with the application of Jupyter Notebook (https://jupyter.org/install). Intra-class correlation coefficients were used to assess the agreement of expert opinions. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered critical in testing all statistical hypotheses. Results. The graphical analysis allowed for the identification of stakeholders and determination of their roles in the DPH system. Groups with high and low levels of power and interest were identified. The agreement among experts regarding the determination of power and interest was respectively ICC=0.76 (95% CI 0.56 – 0.91) and ICC=0.79 (95% CI 0.59 – 0.92). The necessity of targeted efforts with each group, considering their capabilities and limitations, was emphasized. Key stakeholders included families, communities, family physicians, public health institutions, pediatric dentists, and others. Primary functions aimed at strengthening children’s dental health were attributed to influencing determinants of dental health, intersectoral collaboration and support for relevant initiatives at the local level are essential. Conclusions. The importance of developing and implementing programs aimed at improving the dental health of the child population has been established. Emphasis is placed on the significance of collaboration among various stakeholders in supporting a strategic approach to managing DPH.