Oral Health Behavior ChangeRCTNCT07715773
EHBM-Based Intervention on Collegians' Adherence to Oral Health Behaviors (EHBM- CAOHB)
A study testing Intervention Group in people with Oral Health Behavior Change, run by University of Baghdad at 1 site in Iraq.
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluation of collegians adherence to oral health behavers and to examine the efficacy of the Expanded Health Belief Model-based intervention in enhancing oral health behaviors among collegians. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Oral Health Behavior Change
- What is being tested?
- Intervention Group
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 166 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIraq
- Study dates
- 24 Mar 2026to 1 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male and female students aged 18-25 years.
- Enrolled as undergraduate students.
- Willing to participate and provide informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Students with orthodontic appliances or removable prostheses.
- Recent comprehensive dental treatment.
- Female students which are pregnant or lactating.
- Recent contribution in another oral-health behavioral trial or structured oral-health program.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Iraq1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Southern Technical University
Basra, Basra Governorate, 61003
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of the Expanded Health Belief Model-Based Intervention on Collegians' Adherence to Oral Health Behaviors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aims to evaluation of collegians adherence to oral health behavers and to examine the efficacy of the Expanded Health Belief Model-based intervention in enhancing oral health behaviors among collegians.
Read the detailed description
The intersection of oral health and health beliefs represents a critical area in understanding why people adopt or neglect dental care behaviors. The Health Belief Model (HBM) has emerged as a foundational framework for explaining and promoting oral health behaviors, with significant research demonstrating its effectiveness in dental health education.
The Health Belief Model (HBM) effectively predicts and promotes oral health behaviors by targeting individuals' perceptions of disease risks and preventive actions. Research consistently links HBM constructs to improved brushing, flossing, and dental visits, aligning with your prior work on perceived severity, behavioral intention, and oral health.
Education using HBM significantly boosts all perceptions and behaviors: in one quasi-experimental study on 12-year-old girls, post-intervention daily flossing rose from 11% to 87%, correct brushing from 8% to 77%, and Oral Hygiene Index improved (mean 0.72 vs. 1.33 in controls). Another cross-sectional analysis of 748 university students found perceived benefits (e.g., fear of disease risk without check-ups) and floss/interdental brush use strongly predicted willingness for regular dental check-ups (OR 1.683 and 1.616).
Research has demonstrated that the HBM is highly applicable to understanding and promoting oral health behaviors. Studies show that educational interventions based on the HBM can significantly improve:
- Tooth brushing frequency and technique: Participants who received HBM-based education showed increased correct brushing behaviors, with 76.9% brushing correctly compared to 0% in control groups.
- Dental floss usage: Daily flossing increased dramatically from 10.9% to 87.2% in intervention groups, with 75.5% using correct flossing techniques.
- Regular dental check-ups: Willingness to undergo regular dental examinations improved significantly, with 96.6% visiting a dentist within 4-6 months after HBM-based education.
- Oral hygiene status: The Oral Hygiene Index improved from fair to good in 95.7% of participants receiving HBM-based interventions.
Recent research demonstrates that HBM-based interventions are especially effective for middle-aged and elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes, improving oral health knowledge, beliefs, and hygiene behaviors-particularly tooth brushing and flossing.
For University Students, Studies show that university students often have lower rates of regular dental check-ups (12.3-30.2%) than the general population, making them an important target for HBM-based interventions focused on building long-term preventive habits.
- Conditions
- Oral Health Behavior Change
- Being tested
- Intervention Group
- Keywords
- Oral Health Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Intervention GroupBehavioural
Also called Expanded Health Belief Model (EHBM) Based Behavioral Intervention for Oral Health
The participants will be a male and female students enrolled in the Southern Technical University. the recommended sample size would be (72 for each group). As for sampling technique, simple random sampling will be used to select eligible participants, who will then be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Then, awareness lectures will be presented to the intervention group about the oral health, based on the expanded health belief model.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Awareness lectures will be presented to the intervention group about the oral health, based on the expanded health belief model. Receives: Behavioral: Intervention Group |
| Control group. | No intervention | Participants in this arm will receive routine college based health education only. This includes general information about healthy lifestyle. No structured behavioral change program or stage-based intervention will be provided. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Oral Health Behavior Score
The primary outcome measure is the Collegians' Adherence to Oral Health Behaviors and determining whether there is a change resulting from receiving the Expanded Health Belief Model-based intervention. Oral health behavior will be assessed using a structured, validated five Likert scale questionnaire (The Expanded Health Belief Model Scales for Oral Health-Preventive Behaviors) which consists of Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, Self-Efficacy, Subjective Norms, Health Motivation, Cues-To-Action, and Behavioral Intention. The Adherence to Oral Health Behaviors Score (which is a better outcome if it be higher) will be compared between the intervention and control groups to determine the effectiveness of the intervention program in improving adherence of college students to oral health behavior.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jul 2026
- Study start24 Mar 2026
- Primary completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Oral Health Behavior ChangeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of BaghdadThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving Expanded Health Belief Model-based behavioral program and a control group receiving standard health education.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 166 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Baghdad
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Haider Y. Abdulrazaq, University of Baghdad
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07715773
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Oral Health Behaviors
- Acronym
- RCT
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 21 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of the Expanded Health Belief Model-Based Intervention on Collegians' Adherence to Oral Health Behaviors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07715773
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RCT / Oral Health Behaviors
- Conditions
- Oral Health Behavior Change
- Keywords
- Oral Health Behavior
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 166 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of BaghdadUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to evaluation of collegians adherence to oral health behavers and to examine the efficacy of the Expanded Health Belief Model-based intervention in enhancing oral health behaviors among collegians.
Detailed description
The intersection of oral health and health beliefs represents a critical area in understanding why people adopt or neglect dental care behaviors. The Health Belief Model (HBM) has emerged as a foundational framework for explaining and promoting oral health behaviors, with significant research demonstrating its effectiveness in dental health education.
The Health Belief Model (HBM) effectively predicts and promotes oral health behaviors by targeting individuals' perceptions of disease risks and preventive actions. Research consistently links HBM constructs to improved brushing, flossing, and dental visits, aligning with your prior work on perceived severity, behavioral intention, and oral health.
Education using HBM significantly boosts all perceptions and behaviors: in one quasi-experimental study on 12-year-old girls, post-intervention daily flossing rose from 11% to 87%, correct brushing from 8% to 77%, and Oral Hygiene Index improved (mean 0.72 vs. 1.33 in controls). Another cross-sectional analysis of 748 university students found perceived benefits (e.g., fear of disease risk without check-ups) and floss/interdental brush use strongly predicted willingness for regular dental check-ups (OR 1.683 and 1.616).
Research has demonstrated that the HBM is highly applicable to understanding and promoting oral health behaviors. Studies show that educational interventions based on the HBM can significantly improve:
- Tooth brushing frequency and technique: Participants who received HBM-based education showed increased correct brushing behaviors, with 76.9% brushing correctly compared to 0% in control groups.
- Dental floss usage: Daily flossing increased dramatically from 10.9% to 87.2% in intervention groups, with 75.5% using correct flossing techniques.
- Regular dental check-ups: Willingness to undergo regular dental examinations improved significantly, with 96.6% visiting a dentist within 4-6 months after HBM-based education.
- Oral hygiene status: The Oral Hygiene Index improved from fair to good in 95.7% of participants receiving HBM-based interventions.
Recent research demonstrates that HBM-based interventions are especially effective for middle-aged and elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes, improving oral health knowledge, beliefs, and hygiene behaviors-particularly tooth brushing and flossing.
For University Students, Studies show that university students often have lower rates of regular dental check-ups (12.3-30.2%) than the general population, making them an important target for HBM-based interventions focused on building long-term preventive habits.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving Expanded Health Belief Model-based behavioral program and a control group receiving standard health education.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Intervention GroupAwareness lectures will be presented to the intervention group about the oral health, based on the expanded health belief model. |
| Control group. | No intervention | –Participants in this arm will receive routine college based health education only. This includes general information about healthy lifestyle. No structured behavioral change program or stage-based intervention will be provided. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Male and female students aged 18-25 years.
- Enrolled as undergraduate students.
- Willing to participate and provide informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Students with orthodontic appliances or removable prostheses.
- Recent comprehensive dental treatment.
- Female students which are pregnant or lactating.
- Recent contribution in another oral-health behavioral trial or structured oral-health program.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention GroupAlso: Expanded Health Belief Model (EHBM) Based Behavioral Intervention for Oral HealthThe participants will be a male and female students enrolled in the Southern Technical University. the recommended sample size would be (72 for each group). As for sampling technique, simple random sampling will be used to select eligible participants, who will then be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Then, awareness lectures will be presented to the intervention group about the oral health, based on the expanded health belief model. | Behavioural | Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Oral Health Behavior Score
Time frame: 6 months
The primary outcome measure is the Collegians' Adherence to Oral Health Behaviors and determining whether there is a change resulting from receiving the Expanded Health Belief Model-based intervention. Oral health behavior will be assessed using a structured, validated five Likert scale questionnaire (The Expanded Health Belief Model Scales for Oral Health-Preventive Behaviors) which consists of Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers, Self-Efficacy, Subjective Norms, Health Motivation, Cues-To-Action, and Behavioral Intention. The Adherence to Oral Health Behaviors Score (which is a better outcome if it be higher) will be compared between the intervention and control groups to determine the effectiveness of the intervention program in improving adherence of college students to oral health behavior.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Jul 2026.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Oral Health Behavior Change
Not yet recruiting
Integrated Diabetes and Oral Health Care in Oman
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Periodontitis
Not yet recruiting
Effective Implementation Control Trial
Children, Family Engagement
Enrolling by invitation
A Person-centered, Theory-based, Intervention - Method Development Through the Integration of Digital Technology.
Gingivitis
RecruitingObservational study
Impact of Changing the Appearance of Oral Antineoplastics on Adherence and Continuity of Treatment, Patient-reported Health Outcomes, and Patient Experience of Care
Adherence, Patient, Cancer
Not yet recruiting
A Just-in-Time Digital Learning Platform for Teacher Oral Health Training
Oral Health Behavior Change, Oral Hygiene, Oral Health
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Intervention Group in people with Oral Health Behavior Change, run by University of Baghdad at 1 site in Iraq.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Iraq. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Haider Younis Ablulrazaq, PhD (+9467807698322, haidar.abd2406p@conursing.uobaghdad.edu.iq), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Oral Health Behavior Score (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Jul 2026.