Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: May 23, 2024
Date Accepted: Oct 31, 2024
Improving Oral Health in Prisons: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol (PriOH)
ABSTRACT
Background:
People living in prisons often experience poor oral health, which could be attributed to their limited access to (dental) care, financial constraints, and a general lack of awareness and prioritization towards their oral hygiene. A pilot study involving motivational interviewing has shown promising results for improving the oral health outcomes of people living in prisons.
Objective:
The protocol for the current study aims to assess the efficacy of integrated motivational interviewing and oral health care packages in improving oral health among people living in prisons, compared to controls without added motivational interviewing.
Methods:
PriOH is a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded controlled trial that recruited inmates from four prisons in Rogaland County. The trial aimed to recruit 320 participants before randomly allocating them to either a control or intervention group. The intervention group received motivational interviewing, consisting of a 30-minute session encouraging inmates to discuss their current and desired oral health behaviours and attitudes, highlighting discrepancies to motivate change. Assessments were conducted at 4 and 12 weeks after initiation. The primary outcome measurement is the mucosal plaque scores to assess oral health behaviours, attitudes, and oral hygiene. Secondary outcome measurements are oral hygiene routines, sugary food and drinks intake, oral health perception and oral health-related quality of life.
Results:
Data collection started in November 2021 and ended in June 2023. A total of 327 participants were recruited, of which 126 received the intervention.
Conclusions:
Integrating motivational interviewing in oral health programs at prisons can significantly improve the oral health of incarcerated individuals. Should the results from this study demonstrate efficacy, it could be valuable insight for policymakers, oral health practitioners, and correctional services in addressing the needs of a traditionally underserved group before being scaled up to enhance dental care practices in prisons. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05695443).
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