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Determinants of oral hygiene behavior: a study based on the theory of planned behavior
Author(s) -
BuunkWerkhoven Yvonne A.B.,
Dijkstra Arie,
van der Schans Cees P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2010.00589.x
Subject(s) - theory of planned behavior , interdental consonant , medicine , oral hygiene , tooth brushing , oral health , dentistry , control (management) , toothbrush , economics , engineering , brush , management , electrical engineering
Buunk‐Werkhoven YAB, Dijkstra A, van der Schans CP. Determinants of oral hygiene behavior: a study based on the theory of planned behavior. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39: 250–259. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an index for oral hygiene behavior (OHB) and to examine potential predictors of this actual behavior based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Measures of oral health knowledge (OHK) and the expected effect of having healthy teeth on social relationships were included too. Material and methods: Using an Internet questionnaire, 487 participants were asked about actual OHB, attitudes (ATT), social norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), OHK, and expected social outcomes (ESO). Based on a Delphi method involving oral health professionals, a new index for OHB was developed, including tooth brushing, interdental cleaning, and tongue cleaning. Results: Regression analysis revealed that the TPB variables (ATT, SN, and PBC) and OHK explained 32.3% of the variance in self‐reported OHB. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that socio‐psychological consequences play a role in oral health care.