Improving inmates in Norwegian prisons’ oral health

Abstract

Abstract Background Inmates in Norwegian prisons have poorer dental health than the general population. Inmates are a vulnerable group, often not able to take advantage of the dental health services or able to take care of own oral health. Poor dental health may have an impact on general health, in that people with poor oral health often suffer from pain and impairment and often feel restricted in activities at school, work or home. Oral health is declared as a human right by the World Dental Federation, and has gained recognition through the World Health Organization who emphasize on strengthening public dental health programs. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of an intervention based on Motivational Interviewing (MI) on improved dental health across inmates in Norwegian prisons. Methods Inmates in Norwegian prisons were offered an oral examination and a small package containing toothbrush, toothpaste and floss- in addition to a short MI-intervention (20 minutes) by a dental hygienist. The participants were interviewed appr. 2 weeks later by a researcher to assess the effect of the intervention. The qualitative data-analyses were guided by thematic analysis. Results The findings indicate that the intervention had a positive effect on behavioural change and motivation related to dental health care. The findings indicate that the intervention improved the inmates daily dental health care through better routines and motivation. Conclusions The findings suggest that the intervention has a positive impact on inmates’ oral health. The inmates changed routines related to daily dental care and reported higher motivation for taking care of their oral health. This is one of the first studies that explores the effect of an intervention to improve inmates’ oral health and bridges a knowledge-gap in the literature. The findings may increase the understanding of how dental services should be organized and offered to provide dental health care for this vulnerable group. Key messages Poor oral health is associated with poor general health, and inmates in Norwegian prisons have poorer dental health than the general population. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of Motivational Interviewing on improved dental health across inmates. Findings: positive effect on the motivation and behavior related to oral health.