Effects on Oral Health Behavioral Change of Personal Instruction Based on New Dental Health Program for Adults

Abstract

 The new participatory oral health examination of the Japan Dental Association comprises assessment and a health instruction program in which adults are given information and support, and the participants and professionals set goals together for oral health behavioral change.

 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the oral health instruction type, including that based on the new oral health program, on oral health behavioral change.

 The subjects were 200 employees of Tainai City office, who were divided into four groups according to the type of oral health instruction: personal instruction, group instruction, information provision, and control groups. Subjects in the personal instruction group received oral health instruction based on the new program developed by the Japan Dental Association; those receiving group instruction attended a 30-minute lecture given by dentists; those in the information provision group received leaflets explaining periodontal disease prevention, with the status of their oral health behavior checked once a month by email; and the control group received no instruction. A questionnaire survey based on information given in the new program was performed at the baseline and 3 months after instruction to evaluate behavioral changes. Logistic regression analysis was performed with the change in oral health behavior after 3 months as the dependent variable and each of the four instruction groups as independent variables. Change in oral health behavior compared with the control group was identified only in terms of flossing and interdental brush use in the personal instruction group. Personal instruction based on the new program of the Japan Dental Association was more effective than group instruction and information provision for promoting oral health behavioral change.