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Table 3 Summary of the outcomes, assessment methods, and progression criteria

From: Study protocol for First Dental Steps Intervention: feasibility study of a health visitor led infant oral health improvement programme

Feasibility:

Assessed via:

Progression criteria:

Intervention: was it feasible to implement the First Dental Steps intervention?

a) Interviews with key oral health stakeholders

b) Reports on evaluation of training (including results from before and after questionnaires completed by attendees)

c) Interviews with health visiting teams about intervention delivery, including training, provision of advice and distribution of oral health packs

• FDS was feasible to implement based on stakeholder and HVT feedback

• Training was well received and attended

Pilot study: were the study design and methods effective?

a) Recruitment and retention rates

b) Were the participant identification and eligibility criteria suitable?

c) Were the assessment measures effective:

• Complete and missing responses

• Participants understanding of questions

• Suitability of all variables for the analysis

• Any gaps in the data

d) Retention of health visiting teams to the study

e) Interviews with health visiting teams members

f) Interviews with parents

g) Further challenges with the study (changes, pauses, or termination)

h) Unforeseen limitations or biases

• At least a 30% parental consent rate for eligible children

• No more than 30% parental loss to follow-up

• Were the participant identification and eligibility criteria suitable?

• Were the assessment measures effective:

• Complete and missing responses

• Participants understanding of questions

• Retention of HVTs to the trial

Acceptability of the intervention:

Assessed via:

Was the intervention acceptable to health visitors and key stakeholders?

a) Interviews with health visiting teams members, health visiting team leads, and local authority leads for oral health

FDS was acceptable to stakeholders, HVTs, and parents, based on interview feedback.

Was the intervention acceptable to parents?

a) Interviews with parents