Objectives: The Toddler Oral Health Intervention (TOHI) was launched in 2017 to promote oral health prevention at well-baby clinics, with a focus on parents with chil- dren aged 6–48 months. This study aims to evaluate the integrity of motivational in- terviewing (MI) as one of the core intervention pillars in the TOHI study. Methods: The TOHI study was conducted at nine well-baby clinics in the central and southern regions of the Netherlands, with 11 trained oral health coaches (OHCs) de- livering a tailored individual counselling programme. Audio recordings of counselling sessions were uploaded by the OHCs into an online portal for feedback and integrity evaluation purposes. A trained independent assessor evaluated MI integrity using the MITI 4.2.1 coding scale. IBM SPSS Statistics was used to analyse the data, with rat- ings on technical and relational components and behavior counts computed by add- ing up the scores and categorizing them into six key MI skills. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages and median scores with interquartile ranges, were calculated. Results: The median ratings on the technical and relational components were 2.5 (IQR 2.0–3.5) and 3.5 (IQR 3.0–4.0) out of a maximum of 5, with 45% and 58% of record- ings showing fair or good MI integrity, respectively. A median of 38% (IQR 25–55%) of complex reflections and a reflection-to-question ratio of 0.7 (IQR 0.4–1.0), with 47% and 24% of recordings showing fair or good MI integrity, respectively. Median counts of MI-adherent and non-adherent statements were 3.0 (IQR 2.0–5.0) and 0.0 (IQR 0.0–1.0), respectively. The duration of recordings and MI integrity varied among oral health coaches. Conclusion: Overall, this study revealed that, while intensive training was provided, not all OHCs in the TOHI study met fair thresholds for MI integrity. These findings emphasize the necessity of ongoing training, reflection and support to achieve and maintain a fair or good level of MI integrity in clinical practice.
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Mycelium biocomposites (MBCs) are a fairly new group of materials. MBCs are non-toxic and carbon-neutral cutting-edge circular materials obtained from agricultural residues and fungal mycelium, the vegetative part of fungi. Growing within days without complex processes, they offer versatile and effective solutions for diverse applications thanks to their customizable textures and characteristics achieved through controlled environmental conditions. This project involves a collaboration between MNEXT and First Circular Insulation (FC-I) to tackle challenges in MBC manufacturing, particularly the extended time and energy-intensive nature of the fungal incubation and drying phases. FC-I proposes an innovative deactivation method involving electrical discharges to expedite these processes, currently awaiting patent approval. However, a critical gap in scientific validation prompts the partnership with MNEXT, leveraging their expertise in mycelium research and MBCs. The research project centers on evaluating the efficacy of the innovative mycelium growth deactivation strategy proposed by FC-I. This one-year endeavor permits a thorough investigation, implementation, and validation of potential solutions, specifically targeting issues related to fungal regrowth and the preservation of sustained material properties. The collaboration synergizes academic and industrial expertise, with the dual purpose of achieving immediate project objectives and establishing a foundation for future advancements in mycelium materials.
