Patient education, behaviour change, health promotion and community oral health
What this domain tests
This domain tests patient education, behaviour change and community health promotion, including health literacy and equity.
Core rules
- Use a patient-centred approach: ask, listen, reflect and summarise. Motivational interviewing explores importance and confidence rather than lecturing.
- Stages of change help tailor advice: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance.
- Teach-back checks understanding; plain language and visual aids improve health literacy.
- Consider social determinants: cost, access, housing, food security and cultural preferences.
- Community interventions include water fluoridation, school programmes and targeted screening; avoid blaming individuals for structural barriers.
Worked example
A mother gives juice in a bottle at bedtime. Instead of saying stop, ask what makes it hard, explore her concerns, and negotiate one small change such as water after brushing. Document the agreed goal.
Traps
Giving a long lecture; shaming the patient; assuming knowledge equals behaviour; ignoring cost and access; setting goals the patient did not choose.