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References

NHS England. Making every contact count (MECC): consensus statement 2017. http://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/making-every-contact-count-mecc-consensus-statement/ (accessed February 2022)
NHS. Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention 2021. http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evidence-based-toolkit-for-prevention (accessed February 2022)
Joseph S, Hart J, Chisholm A A feasibility and acceptability study of an e-training intervention to facilitate health behaviour change conversations in dental care settings. Br Dent J. 2021; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-021-2722-8
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How to Maximize the Usefulness of Behaviour Change Conversations with Patients during Routine Dental Consultations

From Volume 49, Issue 3, March 2022 | Pages 233-237

Authors

Joanna Goldthorpe

PhD

CPsychol, Research Fellow, Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester

Articles by Joanna Goldthorpe

Email Joanna Goldthorpe

Iain Pretty

PhD, BDS

Professor of Dental Public Health, Colgate-Palmolive Dental Health Unit, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester

Articles by Iain Pretty

Jo Hart

PhD, CPsychol

Professor of Health Professional Education, Division of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, University of Manchester

Articles by Jo Hart

Sarah Cotterill

PhD

Senior Lecturer, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester

Articles by Sarah Cotterill

Sarah Peters

PhD, CPsychol

Senior Lecturer; Manchester Centre for Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester

Articles by Sarah Peters

Abstract

Clinicians can use behaviour change techniques effectively in routine consultations in healthcare settings, including dentistry. Professional guidelines support their use for preventing and managing a range of dental diseases. Theory and evidence from behavioural science can inform effective behaviour change interventions. This article examines the relevance of these techniques to the whole dental team and how they can be implemented within routine dental consultations.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Guidance and recommendations on how to support patients to change behaviours to promote oral (and general) health.

Article

Health behaviour change plays an increasingly important role in preventive dental care. Psychological theories are important in understanding health behaviours and in developing effective interventions to support health behaviour change. Public Health England recommend that dentists introduce the topic of behaviour change with their patients, and this approach is supported in multiple NHS policies and initiatives. For example, the NHS ‘Making Every Contact Count’ initiative1 recommends that every opportunity to have behaviour change-related conversations with patients should be capitalized on. ‘Delivering better oral health: an evidence based toolkit for prevention’2 also contains guidance for dental teams from Public Health England and the UK Department of Health and Social Care. This publication describes the importance of behaviour change interventions within dental practices and identifies those behaviours that should be targets for change.

Routine dental check-ups in the NHS offer important opportunities for ongoing intervention, potentially occurring routinely throughout patients' lifespans. Our research3 found that behaviour change conversations are acceptable to dental professionals and patients, particularly if they are linked directly to oral and dental health outcomes.

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