A psychological intervention for caries active young adults, a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Oral Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Gingivitis and plaque are common oral health issues.
• Behavioral interventions may offer novel approaches to improve oral hygiene.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological intervention that could be applied to health behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention in reducing gingivitis and plaque levels.
• To assess the long-term effects of ACT on oral health outcomes in young adults.
• To explore potential gender differences in response to the ACT intervention.

Main Methods:

• A parallel group randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 135 caries-active young adults.
• Intervention group received two ACT sessions plus standard oral health information.
• Control group received standard oral health information only. Gingivitis and plaque were measured at baseline, 9, and 18 weeks.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant reductions in gingivitis and plaque over time.
• The ACT intervention was not significantly more effective than standard information alone in reducing these measures.
• Exploratory analyses indicated females in the ACT group had significantly greater improvements in gingivitis and plaque compared to males.

Conclusions:

• A brief ACT intervention did not demonstrate superior effectiveness over standard oral health information for improving oral health in young adults.
• ACT may have a beneficial impact on oral health, particularly among females.
• Further research is warranted to explore the specific mechanisms and applicability of ACT in oral health interventions.