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

Ali Kazemian; Melika Hoseinzadeh; Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad; Anahid Jouya; Bahareh Tahani

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1243246

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

Front Public Health. 2023 Dec 8:11:1243246. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1243246. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ali Kazemian¹, Melika Hoseinzadeh², Seyed Ahmad Banihashem Rad^{3

4}, Anahid Jouya¹, Bahareh Tahani⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
² Dental Research Center, Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
³ Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁴ Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
⁵ Department of Oral Public Health, Dental Research Center, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Oral 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.

Methods: A 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 conclusion: There 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.

Keywords: behavioral economics; choice architecture; dental care; nudge; oral health.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Economics, Behavioral
Health Promotion* / methods
Humans
Oral Health
Risk Factors
Self-Management*