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

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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)

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Funding

The work was supported by the Health and Medical Research Fund (No. 11121971), Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong government.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dentistry, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases of Gansu Province, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China

    Lingli Wu

  2. Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong

    Edward C. M. Lo, Colman McGrath & May C. M. Wong

  3. Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Samuel M. Y. Ho

  4. Faculty of Dentistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Xiaoli Gao

  5. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Xiaoli Gao

Authors
  1. Lingli Wu
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  2. Edward C. M. Lo
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  3. Colman McGrath
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  4. May C. M. Wong
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  5. Samuel M. Y. Ho
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  6. Xiaoli Gao
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Contributions

This study was conceived by X. Gao. All authors contributed to the study design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by L. Wu, M. Wong, and X. Gao. The data collection was supervised by E. Lo and X. Gao. The first draft of the manuscript was written by L. Wu, and all authors critically revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaoli Gao.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Wu, L., Lo, E.C.M., McGrath, C. et al. Motivational interviewing for caries prevention in adolescents: a randomized controlled trial . Clin Oral Invest 26, 585–594 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04037-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04037-w

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