Physicians' oral health education in Kentucky

The Physicians' Oral Health Education in Kentucky (POHEK) curriculum was developed to teach family medicine residents to (1) perform oral health screening and risk assessment and (2) recognize and manage common oral conditions for children ages 5 years and under. Family medicine residents in urban and rural settings received didactics and hands-on experience providing oral screening, risk assessments, and counseling for their pediatric patients. Residents were evaluated by comparing pretest and posttest means of surveys that assessed attitudes and knowledge. Chart audits were also performed. Residents' knowledge and attitudes improved in the oral health care of their pediatric patients.