Appraisal of Behaviour-change Models and Application of Transtheoretical Model-based Motivational Interviewing for Bottle Feeding Cessation- A Qualitative Study
Priyanka R. Acharya *
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, YMT Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, India.
Ashwin M. Jawdekar
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed-to-be University) Dental College and Hospital, Navi Mumbai, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Behaviour change is the key to prevention of diseases; oral diseases being no exception. Behaviours such as frequent consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), feeding milk using a bottle and lack of oral hygiene maintenance are a few examples of behaviours that can cause early childhood caries. Dentists must adopt skills to counsel patients in a manner that will elicit behaviour change. Motivational Interviewing (MI) based on the transtheoretical model of behaviour-change has been effective in tobacco cessation and also has been shown effective in oral health behaviours. This qualitative study demonstrates effectiveness of MI practiced by a paediatric dentist for bottle-feeding cessation. Sixteen mothers were counselled by a single trained MI counsellor in one-to-one counselling sessions and followed up telephonically. Fifteen mothers could stop the practice of bottle feeding. Mothers reported positive feedback on the counselling sessions and satisfaction with the result.
Keywords: Behaviour change, health behaviours, Motivational Interviewing (MI), transtheoretical model, early childhood caries, bottle feeding, counselling