The role of health behavior in preventing XXXX in resource-poor adults: a pilot intervention.

@entity1 @entity1547 @entity158
BACKGROUND: @entity1547 is a highly prevalent, yet preventable disease that is commonly overlooked in the adult population. It is strongly related to health-related behaviors and knowledge, and therefore, is potentially receptive to a behavioral health intervention. However, prevention strategies that target health behaviors in adults are fundamentally different from those in @entity1 , whom most current intervention strategies for @entity1547 target. This study attempts to pilot design, implement, and assess health behavior intervention tools for adults, in order to improve their oral health. OBJECTIVE: To increase knowledge about @entity1547 by 80% and increase positive self-reported oral hygiene behaviors by 80% in low-income adult @entity1 at Interfaith Dental Clinic by piloting novel interventional and educational tools based on the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior. METHODS: A convenience sample of newly registered @entity1 to the Interfaith Dental Clinic between August 2011 and May 2013, were interviewed on each @entity1 's first appointment, exposed to the interventional tools, and subsequently interviewed at their next appointment. A control group, comprised of @entity1 who had completed their caries care as deemed by the clinic and had not been exposed to the interventional tools, were also interviewed on their last appointment before graduating the clinic's program. RESULTS: A total of 112 @entity1 were exposed to the intervention, and forty-two @entity1 comprised the control group. Follow-up for the intervention group was 20.5% (n = 23). Knowledge about the cause of caries increased by 29.9%, and positive self-reported oral hygiene behaviors increased by 25.4%. A Wilcoxon rank sum test showed no significance between the interview scores of the post-intervention group and that of the control group (p = 0.18 for knowledge, p = 0.284 for behaviors). Qualitative results show the vast majority of @entity1 blamed diet for cause of caries, that this @entity1 population prioritized practical advice over factual education, and that flossing was perceived to be the largest barrier to proper oral care, citing @entity158 , lack of time, and technique as common reasons. CONCLUSION: Educational tools based on current models of health behavior theory have the potential to improve @entity1 knowledge and health behaviors, while also remaining low-cost and convenient for clinical use.
