Effectiveness of a health education intervention based on the Health Belief Model to improve oral health behaviours among adolescents

Background : Oral diseases remain a global problem affecting many communities in the world. Since oral diseases are related to behaviours of an individual, they can be largely prevented by modifying their health behaviours. Adolescence is a challenging time and they would be benefited from oral health promotion interventions. Health Belief Model has shown to be effective in modification of an individual’s health behaviors. Objective :To determine the effectiveness of a health education intervention, based on the Health Belief Model to improve oral health behaviours of 15-year-old school children in the Kegalle district. Methods: The study included three groups of students; 208 in each group selected from 06 comparable schools. The intervention group received HBM based health education intervention. One control group received a didactic education intervention while the other acted as an inactive control group. Oral health related perceptions, oral health related behaviours and oral health status of the students in three groups were assessed before the intervention and after a follow up period of six months and compared. Results :There were no statistically significant differences in oral health related perceptions, oral health related behaviours and oral health status between groups prior to the intervention. Following the intervention all above variables improved significantly in the HBM group while only the level of plaque and the use of fluoride toothpaste improved in the didactic education group. Conclusions :An oral health education intervention based on the HBM significantly improved oral heath related perceptions, behaviours and oral health status of the 15-year-old students in the Kegalle district.