The Magical Powers of Creating Oral Health Interventions: Justice over Equity

Behavioural science has long been used to understand and influence human behaviour in various fields, including healthcare.

One key concept in behavioural science is the distinction between equity and justice. Equity focuses on treating everyone the same, while justice emphasizes giving individuals what they need to succeed. When it comes to oral health, applying a justice-based approach can lead to more effective interventions and better outcomes for patients.

For example, instead of providing all patients with the same generic oral hygiene advice, a justice-based approach would involve tailoring recommendations to meet the specific needs and preferences of each individual. This could include taking into account factors such as socio-economic status, cultural background, and personal barriers to oral health care.

By applying behavioural science principles, dental practitioners can design interventions that are more likely to be successful in changing behaviour and improving oral health outcomes. This could involve using techniques such as nudging, social norms, and incentives to encourage patients to adopt healthier habits.

In addition, behavioural science can help identify and address the underlying causes of poor oral health, such as lack of access to dental care, low health literacy, and stigma around oral health issues. By targeting these root causes, we can create more sustainable, long-term solutions that promote oral health justice for all.

The first session will highlight the importance of the form of delivery over the specific behavioural techniques applied, drawing on examples of different models i.e. the COM-B or HAPA models. The divide between messaging for caries and periodontal diseases will be questioned, advocating for a more integrated approach to improve oral well-being.

In the second session the participants together will explore the significance of sustainable solutions and relationship building in promoting oral well-being.  Participants are invited to start the process of sharing and developing effective options to promote oral health and are encouraged to engage curiosity, foster cultural appropriate messaging, and discuss how we can prioritise justice over equity in our health promotion efforts.

Learning Objectives

By unlocking the magic of behavioural science and prioritising justice over equity in oral health care, we can revolutionise the way we approach dental care and create a more equitable and effective system for promoting oral health. Let's work together to make oral health a priority for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.