Longitudinal Impact of Brief Motivational Interviewing on Periodontal Clinical Outcomes and Patient Perceptions: A 3-year follow-up study

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal impact of multiple brief motivational interviewing (MI) sessions on behaviors as measured by clinical indicators of periodontitis and patient perceptions of importance, interest, and self-efficacy for oral hygiene behaviors.

Methods Fifty-eight patients in the periodontal maintenance phase of therapy who had completed all study visits from a 1-year single-masked, examiner randomized clinical trial were invited to participate in this 3-year follow-up study with no intervention. Clinical outcomes of O’Leary plaque score, bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI) and patients’ perceived interest, importance, and self-efficacy for oral hygiene behaviors were collected. Results were reported using means with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Analyses were performed using statistical software (R version 4.3.2).

Results A total of 41 patients participated for a 72% retention rate. The brief MI group yielded a statistically significant reduction in BOP from baseline to 3-years (0.02) and significance in the reduction of GI scores from baseline to 3-years (p<0.0001). Perceived self-efficacy in maintaining a change long-term was sustained from baseline (4.19) to 3-year follow-up (4.14) for the brief MI group as compared to the traditional OHI group (baseline 4.23; 3-year follow-up 4.04). Time of interaction between traditional oral hygiene instruction (OHI) and brief MI groups did not achieve statistical significance for plaque score from baseline to 3-years (0.12).

Conclusion A brief MI intervention achieved longitudinal reductions in clinical indicators of periodontitis and enhanced patient’s perception of self-efficacy for oral hygiene behaviors at a 3-year follow-up.