Course Overview
The aim of the article is to share the development and delivery of a brief, effective behaviour change intervention called RETURN, which was led by dental nurses in urgent dental care settings, with the goal of reducing inequalities in dental visiting.
The objectives for the reader are to:
- Understand the core problem: how to support adult patients who only visit the dentist when in pain to start attending more regularly for check-ups and routine care.
- Recognise the central role of the dental nurse in facilitating patient conversations and delivering a behaviour change intervention.
- Identify the key components of the RETURN intervention, including motivational interviewing, a short video, and a patient pack.
- Appreciate how a research trial can increase the confidence and expand the role and communication skills of dental nurses in clinical practice.
