Deinzer Renate, Granrath Nicole, Spahl Manuela, Linz Sandra, Waschul Bernd, Herforth Armin
Institute of Medical Psychology, University of Düsseldorf, Germany.
Br J Health Psychol. 2005 May;10(Pt 2):269-83. doi: 10.1348/135910705X26858.
Several studies indicate that stress adversely affects various health behaviours. Oral hygiene behaviour, however, has been rarely studied in this context. The present study thus aims to assess the effects of stress on oral hygiene behaviour and clinical outcome.
In a prospective matched controlled design 12 pairs of medical students, each consisting of 1 student participating in a major academic exam and 1 student not participating in any exams (control) were studied.
A professional tooth cleaning was performed 4 weeks prior to exams to obtain plaque levels of 0 at all sites. Immediately prior to professional tooth cleaning and 4 weeks after exams plaque levels (as indicator of oral hygiene behaviour) and bleeding on probing (an indicator of gingivitis) were assessed.
No group differences were observed at the beginning of the exam period; after exams significant higher rates of plaque (p=.0005, d=1.74) and gingivitis (p=.016, d=1.01) were observed in exam students as compared with controls.
The study illustrates the clinical significance of stress effects on health behaviour. Stress should be included as a factor in models of patient compliance and health behaviour.
多项研究表明，压力会对各种健康行为产生不利影响。然而，在这种背景下，口腔卫生行为很少被研究。因此，本研究旨在评估压力对口腔卫生行为和临床结果的影响。
在一项前瞻性配对对照设计中，研究了12对医科学生，每对由1名参加主要学术考试的学生和1名不参加任何考试的学生（对照组）组成。
在考试前4周进行专业牙齿清洁，以使所有部位的牙菌斑水平达到0。在专业牙齿清洁前即刻以及考试后4周，评估牙菌斑水平（作为口腔卫生行为的指标）和探诊出血（牙龈炎的指标）。
在考试期开始时未观察到组间差异；考试后，与对照组相比，考试学生的牙菌斑（p = 0.0005，d = 1.74）和牙龈炎（p = 0.016，d = 1.01）发生率显著更高。
该研究说明了压力对健康行为影响的临床意义。压力应作为患者依从性和健康行为模型中的一个因素。
