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. 2020 Jun 18;6(1):e000759.
doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000759. eCollection 2020.

Implementation of a behavioural change intervention to enhance oral health behaviours in elite athletes: a feasibility study

Julie Gallagher  1 , Paul Ashley  1 , Ian Needleman  1
Affiliations

Implementation of a behavioural change intervention to enhance oral health behaviours in elite athletes: a feasibility study

Julie Gallagher et al. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. .

Abstract

Background: Poor oral health of elite athletes is common and is associated with negative performance impacts. There is a need for oral health promotion strategies that are effective within the elite sport environment.

Aim: To develop, implement and evaluate a pragmatic oral health promotion intervention that integrated the capability, opportunity, motivation and behaviour model of behavioural change into the knowledge transfer system for effective implementation of preventive interventions.

Methods: Repeated measures study. Athletes and support team together viewed one 10 min presentation and three 90 s information films. Athletes alone received oral health screening, personalised advice and an oral health toolkit. Outcome measures included: (1) oral health knowledge, athlete-reported performance impacts (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre, OSTRC score), use of oral hygiene aids, gingival inflammation (bleeding) score, recorded at baseline, 4-6 weeks and 12-16 weeks and (2) athlete feedback.

Results: We recruited 62 athletes; 44 (71%) male and 58 (93.5%) white British, 55 (88.7%) athletes completed the study. Mean knowledge score improved from 5.69 (1.59) to 6.93 (1.32) p<0.001. Mean OSTRC score reduced from 8.73 (14.54) to 2.73 (11.31) p<0.001. Athlete use of prescription strength fluoride toothpaste increased from 8 (12.9%) to 45 (80.4%) p<0.001. Athlete-reported use of interdental cleaning aids at least 2-3 x week increased from 10 (16.2%) to 21 (34%) p=0.013. Bleeding score remained unchanged.

Conclusion: This behavioural change intervention was successfully implemented within different elite sport environments. It was associated with an increase in athlete oral health knowledge, enhanced oral health behaviour, a reduction in self-reported performance impacts and high participant retention.

Keywords: behaviour; elite performance; implementation; sports & exercise medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The Centre for Oral Health and Performance is part of the UK IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Protection of Athlete Health with the Institute of Sport Exercise and Health (ISEH) and the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Gallagher J, Ashley P, Petrie A, et al. . Oral health and performance impacts in elite and professional athletes. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2018;46:563–8. 10.1111/cdoe.12392 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Needleman I, Ashley P, Petrie A, et al. . Oral health and impact on performance of athletes participating in the London 2012 Olympic games: a cross-sectional study. Br J Sports Med 2013;47:1054–8. 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092891 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Needleman I, Ashley P, Meehan L, et al. . Poor oral health including active caries in 187 UK professional male football players: clinical dental examination performed by dentists. Br J Sports Med 2016;50:41–4. 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094953 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gallagher J, Ashley P, Petrie A, et al. . Oral health-related behaviours reported by elite and professional athletes. Br Dent J 2019;227:276–80. 10.1038/s41415-019-0617-8 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Department of Health Public health England. delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention third edition London, 2017. Available: www.gov.uk/government/publications/delivering-better-oral-health-an-evid... [Accessed 18th Jan 2018].

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