Effective group behavioral intervention for older periodontal patients.
A randomized clinical trial assessed the effect of a group-based behavior modification intervention on oral hygiene skills, adherence and clinical outcomes for older periodontal patients. Subjects (n = 107) were aged 50-70 yr with moderate periodontal disease. They were randomly assigned to usual care or intervention. Intervention consisted of 5 weekly, 90-min sessions that included skill training, self-monitoring, weekly feedback about bleeding points and group support focused on long-term habit change. Four-month follow-up indicated significant improvements in the intervention versus the usual periodontal maintenance group for oral hygiene skills and self-reported flossing (p < 0.001), plaque, gingival bleeding, bleeding upon probing throughout the mouth, and pocket depth for sulcus depths that measured between 3 and 6 mm at baseline (p < 0.009). Group oral health intervention provides an effective and relatively inexpensive means of helping patients improve their self-care skills and achieve high levels of adherence to an effective self-care regimen.
Little
S J
SJ
Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR 97227-1098, USA. littlesa@chr.mts.kpnw.org
Hollis
J F
JF
Stevens
V J
VJ
Mount
K
K
Mullooly
J P
JP
Johnson
B D
BD
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome