Delivering Oral Health Messages

The aim of this study was to gain insight on the views of Hindi-speaking mothers on readily available English language oral health education materials and to evaluate the acceptability of Hindi language adapted versions of these materials. This qualitative study is nested within an ongoing multi-centre birth cohort study in Greater Western Sydney, Australia. Following purposive selection of Hindi-speaking mothers (n = 19), a semi-structured interview was conducted. Two English leaflets were mailed to participants prior to the interview. The simplified English and translated Hindi versions of the leaflets were provided at the interview, and the participants were asked to compare and evaluate all three versions. Interviews were audio recorded, and thematic analysis was used to analyse data from interview transcripts. A majority of the participants reported a certain degree of difficulty in reading and comprehending oral health messages in Hindi. Although Hindi translations were accurate, mothers preferred the simplified English as opposed to the Hindi version. Visual illustrations and a simple layout facilitated the understanding of oral health messages. Developers of oral health education leaflets should thoroughly research their prospective user groups, particularly migrant populations, and identify the need for simplified or translated oral health education leaflets.

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A content analysis of oral health messages in Australian mass media

Australian Dental Journal ◽

10.1111/adj.12300 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 16-20 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

K Jones ◽

J Merrick ◽

C Beasley

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Oral Health ◽

Mass Media ◽

Health Messages

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Oral health promotion apps: an assessment of message and behaviour change potential

International Journal for Quality in Health Care ◽

10.1093/intqhc/mzaa112 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Katherine H KACZMARCZYK ◽

Kara A GRAY-BURROWS ◽

Karen VINALL-COLLIER ◽

Peter F DAY

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Oral Health ◽

Behaviour Change ◽

Theoretical Domains Framework ◽

Health Messages ◽

Behaviour Change Technique ◽

Oral Health Promotion ◽

Health Apps ◽

Change Technique

Abstract Background Oral health worldwide needs improving: untreated dental caries is the most common health condition affecting people globally. Mobile applications (apps) have potential to provide preventative oral health interventions. This study aimed to investigate the quality of available oral health promotion apps, assessing information provided and the barriers to oral health addressed using psychological frameworks. Methods A content assessment of oral health promotion apps targeted at adults in the UK iTunes store was conducted. The quality of 22 apps was assessed against 3 objective indices derived from the Delivering Better Oral Health toolkit, Theoretical Domains Framework and Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy. Index scores were calculated and descriptive analyses were completed. Results On average, four Delivering Better Oral Health messages, seven Theoretical Domains Framework components and eight Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy components were addressed per app. The most common components were: ‘take at least two minutes to brush’ for the Delivering Better Oral Health index, ‘goals’ and ‘intentions’ for the Theoretical Domains Framework index and ‘goal setting (behaviour)’ for the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy index. Conclusion The quality of information available in oral health apps requires improvement with the majority addressing only a few barriers to oral health. Currently, there is no recognized scale for evaluating oral health apps: this study provides a suggested method for future app evaluation. There is opportunity for a new app to be created based on health behaviour change theory which includes all the Delivering Better Oral Health messages.

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