The Humphris Group is interested in the psychological aspects of oral health including dental phobia, chronic facial pain and oral cancer. We have completed a controlled trial of a new intervention specifically designed for patients following treatment of orofacial cancer. The association of mental health status and various functions of the face following initial treatment, and the psychological effects of providing information about oral cancer to patients are our current fields of interest

Oral health

Assessment of the communication processes involved in encouraging young children (aged 4 to 5 years) to receive routine fluoride topical application in the nursery school environment.  This is part of a major ‘roll-out’ of the ChildSmile programme to improve the oral health of Scotland’s children with a focus to reduce health inequalities.  An innovative approach to identify typical sequences of behaviour that predict positive outcomes is being developed.

Patient response to diagnosis and treatment of oral (head and neck) cancer with an emphasis on the identification of concerns and mood disorders.

Patient perception and meanings associated with their images of head and neck tumours.  An emphasis on visual illness perceptions.

Communication between dental practitioner and the dentally anxious patient attending for restorative treatment in response to a formal screening of dental anxiety.

Psychometric assessment of hypothetical psychological constructs employing confirmatory factor analysis.

Structural equation modelling for cross-sectional and longitudinal panel surveys and multi-group comparison