Understanding behaviour change to promote regular dental attendance

Abstract

Regular dental attendance is a key oral health behaviour. Behaviour change interventions are increasingly being used to promote positive oral health behaviours. A systematic approach to understanding behaviour has led to the development of frameworks which aim to guide the process of designing behaviour change interventions. One such framework is the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW). This article aims to explore and identify barriers to regular dental attendance which may be targeted using behaviour change interventions based on the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour model (COM-B) and the BCW, and suggests potential behaviour change techniques which could be utilised into a behaviour change intervention with the aim to promote regular dental attendance.