Method: 112 adolescents were recruited through a community dental clinic. Following baseline examinations the participants were randomized to either the Control group (n=56) or Intervention group (n=56). Semi-structured interviews were conducted at baseline, 6- and 12-month visits to obtain information on participants’ dietary and oral health behaviors. For Intervention group +participants, this information was used during the motivational interviews at their 3- and 6-month visits to ascertain what behaviors they were willing to change to improve their oral health status. Agreed changes were documented on an MI Agreement Form, which was then used in the discussion at later visits of whether the agreed self-management behavioral changes had been achieved.
Result: 35/36 and 29/30 Intervention group participants who attended for motivational interviews at their 3-and 6-month visits agreed to change behaviors. The most common behavior changes agreed to included use of 5000ppm fluoride-toothpaste, brushing teeth at least twice/day, drinking more fluoridated water and reducing the amount of snacking between meals. Perceptible changes in caries-risk factors were observed among study completers in the Intervention group.
|
|
Control Group |
Intervention Group |
||
Risk Factor |
Behavior |
Baseline |
12-months |
Baseline |
12-months |
Tooth-brushing |
At least twice/day |
66.7% |
71.8% |
66.7% |
77.7% |
Snacking between meals |
Once or more daily |
61.5% |
74.4% |
44.4% |
38.5% |
Drinking fluoridated water |
Yes |
51.4% |
82.0% |
55.6% |
92.3% |
Conclusion: Motivational interviewing was useful in altering dietary and oral health behaviors in this adolescent population.