"Promoting mouthguards": the development, implementation and evaluation of a health education programme

Abstract

An exploratory study of the preventive health behaviour, mouthguard use, was undertaken. This study established a database of mouthguard use in four sports, in New Zealand Secondary Schools. The data was used to identify at-risk groups, as part of the needs assessment process which justified targeting a selected population for a mouthguard promotion. In addition, selected variables from the Health Beliefs Model were pretested for applicability to an education programme. An experimental intervention was then planned and implemented as a field study to promote mouthguards. The intervention combined education with the provision of mouthguards and a trial change in the longstanding Health Department policy on who is permitted to provide and fit mouthguards. Questionnaire and observational survey methods were used to evaluate the promotion and the fieldworkers' role. Increased mouthguard use was found in all experimental groups while the use of mouthguards by the control group decreased. The fieldworkers adapted well to their new tasks and were welcomed and accepted by the schools they visited. Having an uncomfortable mouthguard was found to be the greatest barrier to use; the coach was found to have the greatest influence on whether or not players wore mouthguards; and taking a social change approach to promoting mouthguards appeared to have the greatest long term impact, in New Zealand.