Abstract
Background
Oral diseases such as dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss are a considerable public health problem. A review of the epidemiological data from many countries indicates that a global increase in dental caries prevalence affects children as well as adults. Despite the improvement in oral health of children in the last few decades, tooth decay remains one of the most common childhood diseases in both industrialized and developing countries.
Purpose
The study evaluates the effects of a self-regulatory intervention to increase dental flossing among adolescents and examines the mediating mechanisms underlying behavioral changes.
Methods
A cluster randomized controlled trial compared a brief intervention arm with a control arm in 166 girls aged 11–15 years. Planning, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention were specified as mediators between treatment conditions and follow-up dental flossing frequency. At baseline, the intervention group received theory-guided materials on oral hygiene. Four weeks later, changes in behavior and social-cognitive variables were assessed.
Results
The brief self-regulatory intervention led to an increase in dental flossing and social-cognitive constructs. A sequential mediator model was identified in which first changes in intention and afterwards changes in self-efficacy mediated between treatment conditions and behavioral outcomes.
Conclusion
Intention formation and self-efficacy seem to play an instrumental role in the mechanism that facilitates dental flossing among adolescent girls. Oral self-care interventions should consider the application of intention formation strategies combined with building confidence in one’s ability to adhere to the regimen.
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The authors confirm that the study was funded by the authors and their institutions.
Conflict of Interest
Maryam Gholami, Nina Knoll, and Ralf Schwarzer declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors conformed to the Helsinki Declaration concerning human rights and informed consent, and they followed correct procedures concerning treatment of humans and animals in research.
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Gholami, M., Knoll, N. & Schwarzer, R. A Brief Self-Regulatory Intervention Increases Dental Flossing in Adolescent Girls. Int.J. Behav. Med. 22, 645–651 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9459-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9459-6