Appraisal of Behaviour-change Models and Application of Transtheoretical Model-based Motivational Interviewing for Bottle Feeding Cessation- A Qualitative Study

Behaviour change is the key to prevention of diseases; oral diseases being no exception. Behaviours such as frequent consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), feeding milk using a bottle and lack of oral hygiene maintenance are a few examples of behaviours that can cause early childhood caries. Dentists must adopt skills to counsel patients in a manner that will elicit behaviour change. Motivational Interviewing (MI) based on the transtheoretical model of behaviour-change has been effective in tobacco cessation and also has been shown effective in oral health behaviours. This qualitative study demonstrates effectiveness of MI practiced by a paediatric dentist for bottle-feeding cessation. Sixteen mothers were counselled by a single trained MI counsellor in one-to-one counselling sessions and followed up telephonically. Fifteen mothers could stop the practice of bottle feeding. Mothers reported positive feedback on the counselling sessions and satisfaction with the result.