Is toothbrushing behaviour habitual? Cues, context, motivators and patient narratives
Is toothbrushing behaviour habitual? Cues, context, motivators and patient narratives
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DOI：
10.1111/cdoe.12624
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发表时间：
2021-02-27
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Harris, Rebecca V.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Raison, Heather;Corcoran, Rhiannon;Harris, Rebecca V.
目的刷牙通常被认为是维持良好口腔健康所必需的一种关键的自我保健行为。虽然每天刷牙两次被广泛推荐为有益的，因为这既能去除生物膜，又能定期使用氟化物，但一些人，如那些社会经济背景较低的人，经常较少刷牙。习惯理论认为，当行为在稳定的环境中对特定提示做出反应而重复进行时，行为就会成为习惯。一旦行为变得自然而然，即使动力减弱，长期维持的可能性也更大。因此，将刷牙确立为一种习惯行为是一种干预策略，可能有助于减少健康不平等。因此，本研究的目的是更全面地了解成人刷牙行为的性质，以及早晚刷牙行为的诱因，以便为这一领域的干预设计提供信息。方法在英格兰西北部贫困地区的一家紧急牙科护理中心进行了29次半结构化访谈。使用框架方法进行主题分析，将数据编码为理论派生的类别。结果早上刷牙被发现与清洁程序紧密结合，并被确定为一种行为，主要是对视觉线索的反应。有些刷牙行为是由内心暗示引起的，表现为强烈的情感或冲动。这更多地与夜间刷牙习惯有关。常见的早晨动机是美学和社会可接受性。晚间的激励因素相对来说比较特殊。结论了解早晚习惯刷牙的本质，对于设计有效的行为干预措施非常重要，尤其是那些旨在实现夜间刷牙频率可持续改善的行为干预措施。
Objectives Toothbrushing is generally considered as a key self-care behaviour necessary for maintaining good oral health. Although twice-daily brushing is widely recommended as beneficial since this provides both biofilm removal and a regular application of fluoride, some people such as those with low socio-economic (SES) backgrounds often brush less regularly. Habit theory identifies that behaviours become habitual when they are undertaken repeatedly in response to a particular cue within a stable context. Once behaviour becomes automatic, long-term maintenance is more likely even if motivation wanes. Establishing toothbrushing as a habitual behaviour is therefore an intervention strategy which may help reduce health inequalities. Therefore, the objective was to more fully understand the nature of toothbrushing behaviour in adults and what prompts its instigation and execution in the morning and evening, in order to inform the design of interventions in this area.Methods Twenty-nine semi-structured interviews were undertaken in an urgent dental care centre in a deprived area of North West England. Thematic analysis using a framework method was used to code the data into theoretically derived categories.Results Morning toothbrushing was found to be strongly integrated into cleansing routines and was identified as a behaviour predominantly initiated in response to visual cues. Some toothbrushing behaviour was prompted by internal cues, expressed as strong feelings or urges. These were more related to night-time toothbrushing habits. Common morning motivators were aesthetics and social acceptability. Evening motivators were relatively idiosyncratic. Cleaning of the mouth following a hard, manual working day emerged as a strong driver for low SES males.Conclusion Understanding the nature of habitual morning and evening toothbrushing is important for the design of effective behavioural interventions, especially those aiming to achieve sustainable improvement in the frequency of night-time toothbrushing.