Developing an intervention to reduce dental visiting inequalities - P1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing an intervention using automated cognitive processes activated by situational features (cues) to reduce inequalities in dental preventive visiting - Phase 1
IRAS ID
172681
Contact name
Margaret Heather Raison
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 26 days
Research summary
Regular dental visiting is important in order to maintain good oral health. Despite the benefits, many people with low socio-economic status (SES) seek dental care only when prompted by symptoms. This is associated with larger number of extracted teeth and greater levels of untreated oral disease (Donaldson et al., 2008). A social gradient in dental visiting behaviour has been attributed, at least in part, to oral health inequalities (Sanders et al., 2006). With both national and international attention increasingly focused on strategies to reduce oral health inequalities, exploring ways to reduce socio-economic differences in dental visiting is important.
Habits are defined as behaviours activated by cues to produce automatic behavioural responses, due to pattern establishment from previous consistent and repeated action (Lally and Gardner, 2013). An intervention basis on habit formation theory would utilise automated cognitive processes and place less reliance on self-control mechanisms, to increase preventive dental service utilisation. It is hypothesised that it would be particularly effective for those living in a low socio-economic background.
This research explores/determines the cue, rewards and processes of habitual regular dental preventive visiting, via qualitative interviews, to assist in understanding how a habitual intervention might be developed.
DONALDSON, A. N., EVERITT, B., NEWTON, T., STEELE, J., SHERRIFF, M. & BOWER, E. 2008. The effects of social class and dental attendance on oral health. J Dent Res, 87, 60-4.
LALLY, P. & GARDNER, B. 2013. Promoting habit formation. . HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 7 S137 - S158. 10.1080/17437199.2011.603640. .
SANDERS, A. E., SPENCER, A. J. & SLADE, G. D. 2006. Evaluating the role of dental behaviour in oral health inequalities. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 34, 71-79.REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0053
Date of REC Opinion
30 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion