The effect of self-monitoring and monetary incentives on the flossing rate of patients at a dental clinic

Epidemiological data reveal that one of the most common diseases in the world is dental disease. Scientific knowledge is available to prevent the vast majority of dental disease. Thus, individuals are not taking the necessary action to prevent caries and periodontal disease. Dental professionals try to facilitate primary prevention of disease through education and the correction of skill deficits with patients. Still billions of dollars are spent each year in the treatment of these diseases. This presents a major health and economic liability and demonstrates a clear need to implement additional behavioral management techniques in the field of dentistry. This study implements two behavioral management strategies, self-monitoring and monetary incentives, in a free dental clinic to explore the effects of these treatments on subject"s dental flossing rate.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health Education

Department dc:contributor.department

Health Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1983

Author dc:creator

• Kramer, Kathryn Daugherty

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/101209

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/101209