MOTIVATING DENTAL PATIENTS
Patient motivation – key learnings
Ensuring that patients attend regular check-ups and comply with dental treatment is a significant challenge for the dental profession. Fear is often cited as a reason for non-attendance; however, worryingly the real reason is often that for many people, teeth are a low priority. [Gregory et al, 2007] Recent literature highlights that patients consider oral hygiene as "annoying" and that compliance with treatment decreases with time. [de Bruyn]
Research into non-compliance has highlighted the need to move from 'compliance' (patients are expected to conform to a set of instructions) to 'concordance' (patient and practitioner achieve a set of shared goals). [Marinker 1998]
Several factors that can be adapted to the dental environment have been identified that will facilitate the change to concordance.
Communication
The initial interaction between patient and dentist sets the stage for the entire relationship. [Partovi M] By understanding patients' medical, dental and social history – and any related fears or phobias – a dentist should be able to administer the best possible treatment and ensure that patients continue with treatment in the future.
Education
Patient education is an integral part of the dental treatment as a whole, but will only be effective if a good rapport has been developed with the patient. [Partovi M] The following five basic principles have been shown to increase the effectiveness of teaching:
- Present small amounts of information at a time.
- Letting patients set their own pace.
- Supervising patients when teaching them a new skill to ensure that they learn the correct technique.
- Making sure that feedback is given immediately by any dental professional working with the patient. The longer the delay before feedback, the less the patient will remember about what was done and what changes should be made.
- Using positive reinforcement throughout the consultation – do not wait until the patient perfects the technique, praise them whenever they do something correctly. Focussing solely on the patient's mistakes can contribute to the development of a negative attitude towards oral hygiene.
Patient motivation
Studies have shown that motivation is increased when the patient believes that they are going to be assessed – without the assessment the level of adherence decreases. [Partovi M] Dental care providers have the opportunity to continue the period of assessment by arranging regular scheduled recall appointments.