Challenges in Changing Oral Health Behavior in Adults - Essay Example

?Introduction Physical health is one of the most important aspects of human life. Having a healthy body is an essential thing for happy and satisfactory life. However, healthy body depends on the condition of the mind as mental health plays an important role in maintaining the physical health of a person. Many a times, the physical problems are manifestations of the psychological problems that are suppressed by human beings. The mind and the personality of a person build the foundation for his physical health. The behaviour pattern of a person shapes the physical health of a person. Hence, if the physical health of a person is to be improved, then it is necessary to modify his habitual behaviour pattern which is related to his physical health. As this fact is applicable even to the oral health of a person, modifying the oral health related behaviour of a person is important if his health is to be maintained or improved. It has been proved that the behaviour patterns of a person influence his health to a great extent. Hence, NHS (UK) has designed different health programmes in order to reduce the prevalence of oral health problems and diseases in the country. However, NHS has realized that it is not as easy as it seems. The behaviour of a person is not a shallow thing but is rooted deeply in the thought process that is ingrained right from his childhood. This makes it difficult to change the behaviour pattern of a person. Also, the cultural basis of the health related concepts of people are proving to be a great challenge in changing the oral health behaviour in adults. Hence, if the health reform in dental care is to be brought in the UK, then the health professionals need to understand that as cultural beliefs and values of the patients lie at the core of their health behaviour, the behaviour modification can be achieved only when the patients are provided with behaviour substitute that is compatible to their health related cultural beliefs. Challenges As the behaviour of a person is a combination of mental, emotional and cultural aspects of his being, changing the behaviour is not an easy thing. This has created a strong challenge for dental health services. The oral health of a person depends a lot on the dental care behaviour. That is, the oral care habits of a person are strongly responsible for his oral health. Hence, to reduce the prevalence of dental health problems and diseases in the population, it is important to change the oral health behaviour patterns of people. However, there are many challenges of psychological and emotional nature that are creating an obstacle in achieving the goal of modification in oral health behaviour of adults. The challenges are discussed below. Concept of Health The first challenge is the ‘concept of health’. The concept of ‘good health’ depends on people’s cultural and ethnic background. Hence, people from different societies and different cultural groups have different concepts about what comprises of ‘good health.’ Moreover, the concepts also differ on the basis of social class. For example, working people focus on physical ability and stamina as ‘good health’ while middle class people consider the mental, emotional and psychological well-being as ‘good health’. In case of oral health, it is on the basis of these concepts that their oral habits are formed. Hence, it becomes challenging to convince these groups of people to change their oral health behaviours as it might not be compatible with their concepts. Hence, the idea of ‘good health’ by common people may differ a lot from idea of ‘good health’ by health professionals. For example, regular oral check up is considered very important by health professionals and hence, is highly recommended. However, it is not considered important by common people. Moreover, most of the times, lack of healthy lifestyle in people is a result of lack of money. Sadly, the research statistics show that the percentage of social factors contributing to the health of an individual is 50%. This shows that social concept of health influences the individual’s health behaviour to a great extent. Hence, the difference in the concept of ‘good health’ among different social groups is a huge challenge for changing the oral health behaviour in adults. Nature of Information Traditional medical education says that change in behaviour is important to change the health lifestyle of a person. However, the behaviour of a person is based on the ‘information’ he gets from people around him. Hence, even his health behaviour is developed on the basis of the information that he gets from his parents and family members. However, the problem is that the information that is transmitted from parents, even though is culturally correct, can be medically wrong. This creates a conflict in the mind of an adult when his health beahaviour is needed to be changed. It is difficult for a person to let go of the habits and behaviour that is taught by parents and guardians at home based on their cultural understanding. The behaviour pattern and thinking pattern that is set in childhood is difficult to change. Moreover, people trust the information coming from their own cultural values more than the information that comes from the outside sources. The other reason for lack of trust is the change in opinions of what is ‘healthy’. The information regarding what is healthy and what is not, is found changing very often. The constant change in the ‘expert advice’ from the world of medicine develops lack of faith regarding the medical world in the minds of people. On the other hand, the ‘remedies,’ or the health related beliefs, which are based on the cultural understanding and ethnicity, have remained constant from generation to generation. The fact that the information provided by forefathers has never changed, and has given good results in the past, makes people to trust that information. Hence, the difference between ‘conflicting information’ from the medical world, and ‘constant information’ from the cultural source, creates a challenge in changing the oral health behaviour of adults. Gap between Points of Views The third major challenge in the modification of oral health behaviour in adults is the gap between patient’s view and professional’s view on health habits and behaviours. Failure to understand the views, beliefs, attitude and behaviour of patients, which shape their health related habits, leads to failure in educating them about health. Health professionals need to understand that beliefs are formed on the basis of cultural understanding and not on the basis of scientific knowledge. Sometimes, beliefs are based on inaccurate information. However, as people are extremely sensitive towards their cultural and ethnic beliefs and values, it is important to discuss the basis of their beliefs in careful manner. Health professionals need to understand that their own core concepts about oral health, and the patient’s core concepts about oral health, can be totally different as they are based on different cultural beliefs. Hence, trying to understand the base of patient’s beliefs and his point of view is important if his oral health behaviour is to be changed. Moreover, preconceived notions about patients, based on their cultural background, also hamper the effort in understanding them. In this way, lack of understanding of patient’s point of view can create a strong obstacle in educating him about oral health as it develops a problem in building trust between patient and professional. Moreover, health professionals cannot influence the patients that they don’t understand. Hence, without understanding the basic beliefs that drive the patient’s behaviour pattern and habits regarding oral health, it is not possible to modify his health behaviour. Also, behaviours are ingrained during childhood and as they are rooted deeply in mind, it is difficult to change it easily. It is not easy to convince a person to go against his beliefs and to modify what he thinks is right. There are possibilities of person getting offended and feeling being discriminated against if he is told that his cultural beliefs are wrong and unhealthy. Hence, lack of understanding of patient’s point of view can be a strong challenge for health professionals. Labeling of Patients Social image is one of the strongest factors that drive the health behaviour of a person. In today’s world, where the body image and ‘looks’ of a person are given great importance, the thought of being labeled as sick or ‘someone who is suffering from dental problem’, creates a great fear. The fear of being labeled as ill affects the decision of a person to seek treatment or to come out openly with the problem. Also, as most of the dental problems are caused due to unhealthy lifestyle and neglecting the oral care, the dental problem makes a person look responsible for his illness. Patients find it difficult to accept their fault and do not like being told by the dentists that their health behaviour is wrong. Hence, they refuse to seek professional help. This health related behaviour and decision making patterns increase the prevalence of dental problems and diseases in society. General Information Also, general nature of the advice and suggestions hinders the development of right oral health behaviour, i.e. the individual specific oral health behaviour. As every person has different dental condition, the ‘right’ oral health behaviour differs from person to person. For development of oral health, practicing oral care that is suitable and specific to one’s dental structure and condition is important. However, in today’s media driven world, due to ‘general’ oral health information being available through different mediums like print, television, internet etc., people prefer not to go to the dentists and the professionals. They think that instead of spending time and money on professional treatment, it is better to avail the services of ‘free advice’. This prevents the patient from gaining ‘right’ and patient specific information. This leads to problem in oral health behaviour modification as patient interprets the information given through free sources, according to his own thinking and comfort. Hence, general information is also a great challenge in an effort to modify the oral health behaviour in adults. Conclusion The above discussion shows that the roots of health behaviour lie in the cultural and ethnic beliefs of a person. Hence, if the oral health behaviour of an adult is to be modified, then understanding their beliefs and introducing the health behaviour that is in sync with their beliefs is important. Read More