Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Use of Fear Appeals in Dental Health Education

1971; Elsevier BV; Volume: 83; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.14219/jada.archive.1971.0428

1943-4723

Albert Ramírez, Thomas M. Lasater, Robert L. Anderson, Burch G. Cameron, Robert B. Connor, Jamesie C. Davis, Michael J. Meon,

Medical Education and Admissions

This study investigated the effect on oral hygiene of different fear arousing communications. Three groups of boys were exposed to one of three appeals: a high fear appeal followed by recommendations, a low fear appeal followed by recommendations, and a presentation of the recommendations only. Behavioral and questionnaire measures administered several days before and after the presentations indicate that all appeals were equally effective in motivating the boys to brush their teeth; the low fear group indicated greater adoption of the recommendations; the recommendations-only group was the most likely to indicate that the message had an effect on them; and the high fear group retained more of the information than did the other two groups. This study investigated the effect on oral hygiene of different fear arousing communications. Three groups of boys were exposed to one of three appeals: a high fear appeal followed by recommendations, a low fear appeal followed by recommendations, and a presentation of the recommendations only. Behavioral and questionnaire measures administered several days before and after the presentations indicate that all appeals were equally effective in motivating the boys to brush their teeth; the low fear group indicated greater adoption of the recommendations; the recommendations-only group was the most likely to indicate that the message had an effect on them; and the high fear group retained more of the information than did the other two groups.