Applying behavioral economics to reduce broken dental appointments

Wang, Tim T.; Mehta, Himani; Myers, Dillon; Uberoi, Vaidehi

doi:10.1016/j.adaj.2020.07.024

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…While the dangers of the pandemic are unquestionably grave, they may be exaggerated due to availability bias or the tendency of humans to place a greater cognitive weight on information that is more readily accessible. In a field study conducted by the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis (22,23), the effect of two nudges intended to encourage parents of infants to participate in Teeth Brushing Meetings (TBM) was evaluated among 2,050 children in 41 daycare centers. Parents were reminded to take care for their children's oral health in the weeks preceding the TBM.…”

Section: Studies On Nudging Oral Habitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In another commentary article, Wang et al (22) sought to demonstrate how behavioral economics might be used to reduce missed dental appointments. They first outlined the basic issues that may be caused by these missed appointments, such as the exacerbation of dental cavities and the complication of dental treatments, as well as the strains on the patient-provider relationship caused by the erosion of trust.…”

Section: Studies On Nudging Oral Habitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They first outlined the basic issues that may be caused by these missed appointments, such as the exacerbation of dental cavities and the complication of dental treatments, as well as the strains on the patient-provider relationship caused by the erosion of trust. Again, Wang et al (22) addressed salience bias, present bias, planning fallacy, and risk compensation bias as the related cognitivebehavioral obstacles and then suggested a strategy to illustrate how these insights could be combined to reduce missed appointments. Then, they offered suggestions based on the principles of behavioral economics, such as substituting the term "dental cleanings" with "oral health examination" when communicating with patients in person or via reminder messages, and mentioning the advantages of an oral health examination.…”

Section: Studies On Nudging Oral Habitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review

Kazemian,

Hoseinzadeh,

Banihashem Rad

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundOral health disorders significantly contribute to the global incidence of chronic diseases. Nudge interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing people’s decision-making and self-management capacities in a cost-efficient manner. As a result, these interventions could be valuable tools for fostering improved oral care habits. This critical review explores potential behavioral nudges applicable to promoting oral health.MethodsA thorough electronic literature search was conducted on Scopus, Embase, and PubMed databases for papers published post-2008. The search focused on empirical evidence concerning the direct and indirect application of Nudge theory in oral health enhancement. In addition, the investigation included the nudge intervention’s role in managing common non-communicable disease risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, and sugar) and their use in other health sectors.Results and conclusionThere is a dearth of studies on behavioral economics, particularly those involving reward and reminder techniques. However, various successful nudge interventions have been identified in other sectors that aim to improve health decisions. These include strategies encouraging healthier nutritional choices, tobacco and alcohol cessation, medication compliance, routine physical activity, and regular health check-ups. Such interventions can also have direct or indirect positive impacts on oral health. Implementing these interventions within an oral care framework could promote oral health due to similar underlying cognitive mechanisms. However, different types of nudge interventions have varying degrees of effectiveness. Furthermore, factors such as the method of delivery and the characteristics of the targeted population significantly influence the outcome of the intervention. Hence, it is imperative to conduct extensive studies in diverse socioeconomic settings to fully understand the potentials, limitations, and impacts of nudge interventions in promoting oral health.

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Section: Studies On Nudging Oral Habitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Studies On Nudging Oral Habitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Studies On Nudging Oral Habitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review

Kazemian,

Hoseinzadeh,

Banihashem Rad

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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“…Other problems may be getting time off from work, especially for hourly workers in the lower socioeconomic group, and organising childcare. 7 Psychosocial factors are also important and might include cognitive overload and psychiatric barriers. Low health literacy may lead to neglect and deterioration of oral health, because that population does not value or understand the importance of oral healthcare and its relationship to general health and well-being.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Low health literacy may lead to neglect and deterioration of oral health, because that population does not value or understand the importance of oral healthcare and its relationship to general health and well-being. 7 Broken medical appointments are different to broken dental appointments, because oral health deteriorates slowly, so postponing dental care does not usually bring noticeable consequences. Therefore, the severity of oral health problems is often perceived less critically when compared to an acute medical problem that prompts the patient to seek medical care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to maximize dental attendance among older patients

Marchini,

Ettinger

2024

Journal of the Irish Dental Association

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LEARNING OUTCOMES At the conclusion of this paper, readers should be able to 1. Describe the reasons why older adult patients who have been regular attendants may stop responding to recall appointments; 2. Discuss the social and systemic health circumstances related to the potential success of different approaches that can be used to contact missing patients and return them to regular follow-up care; 3. Develop a plan that may be useful in returning older adult patients to dental care.

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Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Nudge Theory in Improving the Oral Self-Care of Schoolchildren with Refugee and Immigrant Backgrounds in Mashhad, Iran

Banihashem Rad,

Esteves-Oliveira,

Kazemian

et al. 2024

Dentistry Journal

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Nudge theory proposes using subtle interventions to encourage individuals to make better decisions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Nudge theory in plaque control and assess caries experience among third-grade primary schoolchildren with refugee and immigrant backgrounds in Mashhad, Iran. Moreover, Afghan and Iranian schoolchildren were compared to assess differences in oral health outcomes. A quasi-experimental field trial was conducted in three public primary schools, comprising 309 participants approximately 9 years old. Interventions were randomly assigned to three schools: School I Messages based on Social Norms (MSN), School II Messages based on Fear of Negative Outcome (MFNO), and School III control group (C). MSN and MFNO received customized motivational video clips at baseline, while C only received Oral hygiene instruction (OHI). All participants received OHI, a brush, and toothpaste. Baseline plaque index (PI) and caries experience in primary and permanent dentition (dmft/DMFT) were recorded. PI was reassessed at two weeks, two months, and six months post-intervention. All data were subjected to statistical analysis. The mean PI decreased significantly in all three groups at the two-week follow-up (p < 0.01). The PI improvements declined over a six-month follow-up period in all groups, and the mean PI difference after six months compared to the pre-intervention was significant only in MSN and MFNO (p < 0.01), while C reverted almost to the pre-study level. Schoolchildren with at least one filled tooth or Iranian nationality showed a greater PI reduction (p < 0.01, p = 0.05). The overall mean ± SD dmft and DMFT were 4.24 ± 2.11 and 1.70 ± 1.24, respectively. Among all the examined participants, 32 (10.40%) individuals were caries-free. The mean dmft was statistically significantly higher in Afghan children than in Iranians (p = 0.01). MSN was more effective on PI reduction in the short term, while MFNO was more long-lasting. Using the Nudge theory via visual aids was more effective in motivating children to perform better oral self-care than solely traditional OHI.

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Applying behavioral economics to reduce broken dental appointments

Cited by 3 publications

References 22 publications

Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review

Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review

How to maximize dental attendance among older patients

Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Nudge Theory in Improving the Oral Self-Care of Schoolchildren with Refugee and Immigrant Backgrounds in Mashhad, Iran

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