Motivational interviewing for caries prevention in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) in changing health behaviors (snack and toothbrushing) and preventing dental caries among adolescents.

METHODS:

Five hundred and twelve adolescents with unfavorable caries-related behaviors ("snacking three times or more a day" and/or "toothbrushing less often than twice a day") were randomly assigned to three groups. Group I received prevailing health education (oral health talks and pamphlets). Participants in group II joined a one-on-one face-to-face MI session. In group III, a patient communication tool (Cariogram) was incorporated to facilitate the MI process. At baseline and 24 months post-intervention, a self-administered questionnaire gathered information of participants' sociodemographic characteristics and oral health self-efficacy and behaviors. Their oral hygiene and tooth status were assessed by a blinded examiner.

RESULTS:

After 24 months, 460 (89.8%) participants were followed up. Compared with group I, (i) restriction of frequent snacking was more likely in group II [OR (95% CI): 3.91 (1.48-10.33)] and group III [OR (95% CI): 6.33 (2.46-16.27)], whereas group III tended to adopt the behavior of toothbrushing twice a day [OR (95% CI): 4.80 (1.79-12.85)]; (ii) no significant between-group difference in plaque score reduction was found (p > 0.05); and (iii) groups II and III developed fewer cavitated teeth (△DICDASII 3-6MFT) [β (95% CI): - 0.19 (- 0.37, - 0.01) and - 0.20 (- 0.38, - 0.02), respectively], whereas increment of total carious lesions (△DICDASII 1-6MFT) was lower in group III [β (95% CI): - 0.63 (- 1.24, - 0.02)].

CONCLUSION:

MI outperformed prevailing health education in improving oral health behaviors and preventing dental caries among adolescents.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Incorporating MI into dental care for caries-prone adolescents contributes to optimal health outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

HKUCTR-1852 ( http://www.hkuctr.com/ ) (Hong Kong, 2013).

• Authors: Lingli Wu, Edward C M Lo, Colman McGrath, May C M Wong, Samuel M Y Ho, Xiaoli Gao
• Journal: Clinical oral investigations (Clin Oral Investig) Vol. 26 Issue 1 Pg. 585-594 (Jan 2022) ISSN: 1436-3771 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 34254214 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Topics

• Adolescent
• Dental Caries (prevention & control)
• Dental Caries Susceptibility
• Humans
• Motivational Interviewing
• Oral Health
• Toothbrushing