Volume 1, Issue 1, July 2025

International Journal for Applied Health Behavior Change

Welcome to the International Journal for Applied Health Behavior Change.
Explore this edition’s highlights and featured content below.
Click the Contents button for a full overview of what’s inside.
To access the complete journal, simply scroll to the bottom of the page—this issue is free to view in full.

• Contents

Introduction

Editor In Chief, Linda Douglas, BSc, PG Dip, RDH

Welcome to the International Journal for Applied Health Behavior Change. This journal will be published online every four months. and welcomes submissions on applied health behavior change research.
The International Journal for Applied Health Behavior Change will present synopses of original, peer-reviewed health behavior change research conducted by dental hygienists and dental therapists (DH & DTs) globally. These professionals work as clinicians, teachers, or managers just like yourselves. They have tested health behavior change strategies within their workplaces or communities, documenting the process and outcomes to advance clinical practice and oral health promotion.
This endeavour amplifies the reach of oral health promotion and health behavior change to our colleagues and their patients worldwide, aiming to improve oral health, overall health, and quality of life. Each synopsis has a full-text research paper and references for those who wish to explore the work in detail, which are available on request from Linda Douglas. Readers are also invited to participate in discussions by posting comments or questions in discussions associated with each research article.
We extend heartfelt thanks to our editorial review board appointees, publishing team, IT support, and authors for their commitment and invaluable contributions. Their collaborative efforts brought our vision to life, and we could not have achieved it without them.
To discuss a possible contribution to the journal, and to request comprehensive information on our manuscript formatting, submission requirements, and terms and conditions, please contact Linda Douglas for our author’s guidelines via the email envelope button right at the bottom of the page.

Publishing Team

Editor in Chief - Linda Douglas, BSc, PG Dip, RDH

Linda is a course Instructor for O’Hehir University. She graduated in 1982 as a dental hygienist from the Royal Dental Hospital in London, England, and in 2013 graduated from O’Hehir University with a BSc in Oral Health Promotion. Linda practiced in public health, periodontology and private practice in London and has worked in Toronto since 1990. She also writes articles and presents CE courses on xerostomia, saliva testing, eating disorders and dental phobia.
Linda completed four years of service as a quality assurance assessor for the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario (CDHO). Additionally, she served for six years on the CDHO Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC).
Linda is studying for an MA in online teaching at the Open University UK. She has completed post-graduate courses on mentoring, technology-enhanced learning and addressing inequality and difference in education. In 2024, Linda received a Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies Student Award.

Publishing Team

Publisher - Trisha O'Hehir, MS, RDH

Trisha is a dental hygienist, also known as the “Oral Health Detective,” who combines clues from scientific research plus practical experiences to uncover the real causes of dental problems. She is interested in the significant role sugar plays, not only as the cause of tooth decay, but also as the cause of bleeding gums, diabetes and heart disease.
Her detective work is also bringing awareness to the many benefits of nasal breathing and the long list of problems associated with mouth breathing. She and co-author Tim Ives, from the UK, authored the MiniBuk, ‘LipZip’, highlighting a series of personal stories about children and adults who suffered a variety of problems due to mouth breathing, from failure to thrive and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to sleep apnea, that were reversed when nasal breathing was restored.
Trisha graduated from the University of Minnesota with degrees in dental hygiene and higher education. Her interesting and varied career has included clinical practice, designing dental instruments, speaking to audiences around the world, authoring more than 500 articles and an informative cartoon book entitled ‘The Toothpaste Secret’.

Publishing Team

Executive Editor - Timothy Ives, MA Ed, BSc (Hons), Dip DH, FHEA

Tim began his career in the Royal Air Force, gaining extensive clinical and mentoring experience across the UK, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Cyprus, New Zealand, Germany, and the Netherlands. After retiring from the military, Tim worked at a UK specialist periodontal practice with leading periodontists Dr José Zurdo and Dr Cristina Romao. He qualified as a Practice Appraiser with the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) in 2007 and completed a postgraduate mentoring qualification in 2011. In collaboration with Philips, he co-founded the UK’s first privately funded mentoring programme for newly qualified dental hygienists and dental therapists.
Tim qualified as a teacher in 2012 and gained an MA in Medical Education in 2015, receiving commendation for his thesis on virtual learning environments. He co-founded O’Hehir University with Trisha O'hehir, where he now teaches the Master’s in Oral Health Promotion. Tim is the Education Group representative on the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy council.

Publishing Team

Creative Director - Dabney Vaccaro, BS, RDH

Dabney is a dynamic health professional bridging the worlds of clinical dental hygiene and holistic herbal medicine—with a special passion for empowering women to thrive in body, mind, and spirit.
Since 2017, she has served as an instructor at O’Hehir University while continuing her part-time work in clinical hygiene, where she mentors fellow hygienists and advocates for the connection between oral health and whole-body wellness. In 2022, she expanded her impact by launching her clinical herbal practice, offering personalized guidance to clients as a certified herbalist and health coach. With a focus on women’s health, Dabney helps her clients navigate life’s transitions—whether hormonal balance, stress resilience, or sustainable energy—through the power of plants, nutrition, and mindful lifestyle choices. Today, she channels that same curiosity into her podcast, The Lifestyle Herbalists, where she shares science-backed herbal wisdom and joyful wellness strategies in holistic health. Find her at www.herbalhygienist.com.

IJHBC

Our vision

Our vision is a more engaged and healthier community, inspired by patients taking an active role in their health behavior decisions.

IJHBC

Our Mission

The International Journal for Applied Health Behavior Change disseminates knowledge on applying health behavior change techniques. This facilitates transformation from the limitations of instructions for compliance to partnership with patients for sustainable healthy behaviors. The journal will present synopses of original, peer-reviewed health behavior change research clearly and succinctly for applications in clinical dental hygiene, dental therapy, and oral health promotion. This will extend the benefits of oral health promotion and health behavior change to our professional colleagues and their patients globally.

Editorial

Did you know you are a researcher?

The key responsibilities of dental hygienists and dental therapists (DH & DTs) include health promotion, education, clinical therapy, research, change agent, and administration. The roles of researcher and change agent are less widely fulfilled, yet they are vital to improve the health of the public and advance our professions. I had pondered the possibility of DH & DTs conducting research in their practice for some time; due to my inquisitiveness, and because of concerns regarding the lack of research by DH & DTs.
At an International Federation of Dental Hygienists’ workshop on dental hygiene research, I asked a renowned dental hygiene educator about the possibility of hygienists in clinical practice conducting research. She replied, “You need a master’s degree to conduct research, but there are few hygienists with master’s degrees.” This disappointing response was tempered by encouragement from another speaker, who mentioned the Faculty of Dental Surgery in the UK, which supports research by dental practitioners. That’s when I realized it was possible for DH & DTs to do research too.  This became a reality when I studied for a Bachelor of Science degree in Oral Health Promotion. I was introduced to the significant concepts of reflective practice, health behaviour change, applied research and action research.
Most DH & DTs underestimate their ability to be researchers and change agents, yet they are far more capable than they realise. Research is not just the domain of the academic, it is possible for DH & DTs in all settings to do research. You too can be a practitioner-researcher to improve your practice and instigate change.
The saying, ‘treatment without prevention is like chasing without catching,’ highlights the limitations of clinical interventions; hence the need to help patients adopt and sustain healthy behaviors and effective self-care between dental office visits. This journal will facilitate our transformation from the limitations of instructions for compliance to collaboration with each patient for sustainable, healthy behaviors.
In this, our very first issue of The International Journal for Applied Health Behavior Change, we share research on some common oral health issues that are concerning to DH & DTs everywhere: namely, gingival inflammation, oral cancer screening, dental anxiety, quitting added sugar intake, and acceptance of needed treatment. Their unifying themes are respect for our patients’ autonomy, and the critical role their daily health behaviors play in achieving long-term success. We believe that you will find these articles as relatable and inspiring as we do. We also welcome your questions and comments on the message boards which are linked to the journal.
Linda Douglas, BSc, PG Dip, RDH
Editor in Chief

Journal Subscrption

International Journal for Applied Health Behavior Change

Please click on the subscribe button which will take you to the registration page. Access to the current journal is free to all dental professionals.

• Subscribe