Effect of planning interventions on parent supervised oral health behaviors in primary school age children: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare effect of planning interventions on self-reported changes in parents supervised oral health related behaviours (OHRBs) and associated clinical oral health parameters for 'primary school age' children.

METHODS: 110 parent-child pairs (children aged 3-8 years) were randomly assigned to either of the two groups. In 'Action planning' group (AP), parent participants of the pair were asked to make 'action plan' within "how, when, where" format for their child OHRBs. In 'Implementation Intention' (IMI) group, parents were asked to form an 'if-then plan' to improve OHRBs for their child. Self-reported changes on target OHRBs, change in plaque scores, change in plaque stagnation areas and change in caries status of tooth surfaces were observed at 2, 8, 12 weeks.

RESULTS: Overall OHRBs scores changed significantly from baseline to 12 weeks for both interventions. But the scores were significantly better with 'if-then' planning than 'action planning' (z=4 p=<0.001) at 12 weeks. Plaque scores also changed significantly from baseline to 12 weeks for both interventions but improved significantly with 'if-then' planning (16.20±5.24) than 'action planning' (50.655±11.24) at 12 weeks. Number of plaque stagnation areas also changed significantly from baseline to 12 weeks for both interventions but improved significantly with if-then' planning at 12 weeks (12.80±5.33) than 'action planning' (42.76±10.34) (t=-11.55 p=<0.001). There was significant change in caries status of sound tooth surfaces with 'action planning' at 12 weeks (z=116.5 p=0.023). There were no new carious lesions reported with 'ifthen' planning at 12 weeks.

CONCLUSION: The study observed significant improvement in OHRBs and associated oral health parameters with planning interventions preferring 'if-then' planning over 'action planning'. It also elicited significant barriers to behaviours in action.