Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review

BackgroundOral health disorders significantly contribute to the global incidence of chronic diseases. Nudge interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing people’s decision-making and self-management capacities in a cost-efficient manner. As a result, these interventions could be valuabl...

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Main Authors: Ali Kazemian, Melika Hoseinzadeh, Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad, Anahid Jouya, Bahareh Tahani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1243246/full
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author Ali Kazemian
Melika Hoseinzadeh
Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad
Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad
Anahid Jouya
Bahareh Tahani
author_facet Ali Kazemian
Melika Hoseinzadeh
Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad
Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad
Anahid Jouya
Bahareh Tahani
author_sort Ali Kazemian
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundOral health disorders significantly contribute to the global incidence of chronic diseases. Nudge interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing people’s decision-making and self-management capacities in a cost-efficient manner. As a result, these interventions could be valuable tools for fostering improved oral care habits. This critical review explores potential behavioral nudges applicable to promoting oral health.MethodsA thorough electronic literature search was conducted on Scopus, Embase, and PubMed databases for papers published post-2008. The search focused on empirical evidence concerning the direct and indirect application of Nudge theory in oral health enhancement. In addition, the investigation included the nudge intervention’s role in managing common non-communicable disease risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, and sugar) and their use in other health sectors.Results and conclusionThere is a dearth of studies on behavioral economics, particularly those involving reward and reminder techniques. However, various successful nudge interventions have been identified in other sectors that aim to improve health decisions. These include strategies encouraging healthier nutritional choices, tobacco and alcohol cessation, medication compliance, routine physical activity, and regular health check-ups. Such interventions can also have direct or indirect positive impacts on oral health. Implementing these interventions within an oral care framework could promote oral health due to similar underlying cognitive mechanisms. However, different types of nudge interventions have varying degrees of effectiveness. Furthermore, factors such as the method of delivery and the characteristics of the targeted population significantly influence the outcome of the intervention. Hence, it is imperative to conduct extensive studies in diverse socioeconomic settings to fully understand the potentials, limitations, and impacts of nudge interventions in promoting oral health.
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spelling doaj.art-b8c36ede12c24973b003ffd339937d982023-12-08T12:02:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-12-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.12432461243246Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical reviewAli Kazemian0Melika Hoseinzadeh1Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad2Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad3Anahid Jouya4Bahareh Tahani5Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranDental Research Center, Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranDepartment of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandGraduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranDepartment of Oral Public Health, Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranBackgroundOral health disorders significantly contribute to the global incidence of chronic diseases. Nudge interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing people’s decision-making and self-management capacities in a cost-efficient manner. As a result, these interventions could be valuable tools for fostering improved oral care habits. This critical review explores potential behavioral nudges applicable to promoting oral health.MethodsA thorough electronic literature search was conducted on Scopus, Embase, and PubMed databases for papers published post-2008. The search focused on empirical evidence concerning the direct and indirect application of Nudge theory in oral health enhancement. In addition, the investigation included the nudge intervention’s role in managing common non-communicable disease risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, and sugar) and their use in other health sectors.Results and conclusionThere is a dearth of studies on behavioral economics, particularly those involving reward and reminder techniques. However, various successful nudge interventions have been identified in other sectors that aim to improve health decisions. These include strategies encouraging healthier nutritional choices, tobacco and alcohol cessation, medication compliance, routine physical activity, and regular health check-ups. Such interventions can also have direct or indirect positive impacts on oral health. Implementing these interventions within an oral care framework could promote oral health due to similar underlying cognitive mechanisms. However, different types of nudge interventions have varying degrees of effectiveness. Furthermore, factors such as the method of delivery and the characteristics of the targeted population significantly influence the outcome of the intervention. Hence, it is imperative to conduct extensive studies in diverse socioeconomic settings to fully understand the potentials, limitations, and impacts of nudge interventions in promoting oral health.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1243246/fulloral healthdental carechoice architecturenudgebehavioral economics
spellingShingle Ali Kazemian
Melika Hoseinzadeh
Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad
Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad
Anahid Jouya
Bahareh Tahani
Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review
Frontiers in Public Health
oral health
dental care
choice architecture
nudge
behavioral economics
title Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review
title_full Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review
title_fullStr Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review
title_full_unstemmed Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review
title_short Nudging oral habits; application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion: a critical review
title_sort nudging oral habits application of behavioral economics in oral health promotion a critical review
topic oral health
dental care
choice architecture
nudge
behavioral economics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1243246/full
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