# Coordinated Oral Health Promotion (CO-OP) Chicago Cohort Study

> **NIH NIH U01** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2023 · $1,082,274

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Caries prevalence, morbidity, and associated disparities in children have been well documented nationally and
locally. Research now is trying to understand why these disparities persist. Caries risk for an individual is
considered a combination of genetics and behaviors (diet, oral hygiene, and fluoride exposure). The
Coordinated Oral Health Promotion (CO-OP) Chicago Cohort Study will use the social ecological theory
lens to examine caries risk factors on multiple levels. CO-OP Chicago was previously funded by NIDCR to
reduce oral health disparities in children. The original CO-OP Chicago study [UH2DE02583] established
baseline estimates of tooth brushing behaviors and determined the feasibility of objective assessment of tooth
brushing behaviors in the homes of high-risk children under the age of three years old. CO-OP Chicago
[UH3DE025483] then recruited 420 child/caregiver dyads to participate in a two-arm, cluster-randomized
controlled trial testing the effectiveness of a family-focused CHW oral health intervention to improve tooth
brushing behaviors for young children. The primary outcome was caregiver-reported brushing frequency and
observed plaque score at 12-months. At entry into the study, the mean child age was 21.5 months. Forty-two
percent of participants described themselves as Black race, and 54% as Hispanic ethnicity. Most children
(89%) had Medicaid health insurance. CO-OP Chicago collected a range of self-reported and observed oral
health data as well as family psychosocial factors from these low-income families over one year. However, the
study did NOT include a caries assessment. The proposed CO-OP Chicago Cohort Study will transition
trial participants into a longitudinal cohort (minimum N=315) to determine multi-level predictors of oral
health behaviors and caries risk in low-income, urban young children over time. The CO-OP Chicago
Cohort Study uses the social ecologic model to organize oral health risk factors into individual (child),
interpersonal (family), organizational (healthcare), and community domains. We will collect four additional
years of data with data collection every six months that includes caregiver-reported and observed child oral
health behaviors, dental plaque scores, diet, parenting styles, dental provider access, and social risk factors.
We will also conduct two caries examinations on children at ages five and seven. Community-level data will be
extracted from public data sources. Specific Aim 1 is to examine associations between child, family,
healthcare, and community factors on young child home oral health behaviors (child brushing frequency and
plaque score) over time. Specific Aim 2 is to examine associations between child, family, healthcare, and
community factors on young child caries prevalence over time. Specific Aim 3 is to examine the mediating
effects of child brushing frequency and plaque score on the prior identified risk factors associated with caries
prevalence. An Exploratory Ai...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10645026
- **Project number:** 5U01DE030067-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** MOLLY A MARTIN
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $1,082,274
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-08 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10645026

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10645026, Coordinated Oral Health Promotion (CO-OP) Chicago Cohort Study (5U01DE030067-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10645026. Licensed CC0.

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