RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To test the ability of several social-cognitive models to explain current behaviour and to predict intentions to engage in three different health behaviours (toothbrushing, flossing and mouthrinsing). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Constructs from the health belief model (HBM), theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the motivational process of the health action process approach (HAPA) were measured simultaneously in an undergraduate student sample of 172 first-year medical students. RESULTS: Regarding toothbrushing, the TRA, TPB, HBM (without the inclusion of self-efficacy SE), HBM+SE and HAPA predictor models explained 7.4%, 22.7%, 10%, 10.2% and 10.1%, respectively, of the variance in behaviour and 7.5%, 25.6%, 12.1%, 17.5% and 17.2%, respectively, in intention. Regarding dental flossing, the TRA, TPB, HBM, HBM+SE and HAPA predictor models explained 39%, 50.6, 24.1%, 25.4% and 27.7%, respectively, of the variance in behaviour and 39.4%, 52.7%, 33.7%, 35.9% and 43.2%, respectively, in intention. Regarding mouthrinsing, the TRA, TPB, HBM, HBM+SE and HAPA predictor models explained 43.9%, 45.1%, 20%, 29% and 36%, respectively, of the variance in behaviour and 58%, 59.3%, 49.2%, 59.8% and 66.2%, respectively, in intention. The individual significant predictors for current behaviour were attitudes, barriers and outcome expectancy. CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that the theory of planned behaviours and the health action process approach were the best predictor of intentions to engage in both behaviours.
Asunto(s)
Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Intención , Modelos Psicológicos , Salud Bucal , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Cognición , Estudios Transversales , Caries Dental/prevención & control , Dispositivos para el Autocuidado Bucal , Femenino , Humanos , Control Interno-Externo , Masculino , Motivación , Antisépticos Bucales/uso terapéutico , Psicometría , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Autoimagen , Autoeficacia , Cepillado Dental , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The aim of this study was to test the efficiency of an extended model of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting intention to improve oral health behaviors. The participants in this cross-sectional study were 153 first-year medical students (mean age 20.16, 50 males and 103 females) who completed a questionnaire assessing intentions, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, oral health knowledge, and current oral hygiene behaviors. Attitudes toward oral health behaviors and perceived behavioral control contributed to the model for predicting intention, whereas subjective norms did not. Attitudes toward oral health behaviors were slightly more important than perceived behavioral control in predicting intention. Oral health knowledge significantly affected affective and cognitive attitudes, while current behavior was not a significant predictor of intention to improve oral health behavior. The model had a slightly better fit among females than among males, but was similar for home and professional dental health care. Our findings revealed that attitude, perceived behavioral control, and oral health knowledge are predictors of intention to improve oral health behaviors. These findings may help both dentists and dental hygienists in educating patients in oral health and changing patients' oral hygiene habits.
Asunto(s)
Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Modelos Psicológicos , Salud Bucal , Teoría Psicológica , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Educación en Salud Dental , Humanos , Intención , Control Interno-Externo , Masculino , Higiene Bucal/métodos , Higiene Bucal/psicología , Higiene Bucal/estadística & datos numéricos , Modelos de Riesgos Proporcionales , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-control and self-confidence, and students' self-rated oral health and oral-health-related behaviours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study sample consisted of 178 first-year medical students. The questionnaire that was used in this study included information about sociodemographic factors, behavioural factors, self-reported oral health status, self-control and self-confidence. RESULTS: The results showed that mean levels of self-confidence in individuals with current extracted teeth and with poor/very poor perceived gingival condition were statistically significant and lower than those with no current extracted teeth and with self-rated excellent gingival health (P < 0.05). Also participants with self-reported gingival bleeding showed lower values of self-control compared with those with healthy non-bleeding gingiva (P < 0.05). When oral health behaviour was evaluated, it was shown that students with higher scores of self-control were more likely to use everyday mouthrinses (P < 0.05). The multiple linear regression analyses showed, for self-rated oral and gingival health status as dependent variable, a strong association with students' self-confidence level (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results support the view that self-confidence is related with oral health status, and individuals with impaired oral and gingival health have a low self-confidence level.
Asunto(s)
Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Estado de Salud , Salud Bucal , Autonomía Personal , Autoimagen , Controles Informales de la Sociedad , Ansiedad/psicología , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Atención Odontológica/psicología , Depresión/psicología , Estética Dental , Femenino , Enfermedades de las Encías/psicología , Hemorragia Gingival/psicología , Humanos , Masculino , Antisépticos Bucales/uso terapéutico , Satisfacción Personal , Estrés Psicológico/psicología , Estudiantes de Medicina/psicología , Extracción Dental/psicología , Cepillado Dental/psicología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate whether body appreciation and self-criticism are associated with self-reported oral health status and oral-health-related behaviors were associated. METHODS: The present study sample consisted of 178 first year medical students. The questionnaire included information about socio-demographic factors, behavioral variables, self-reported oral health status, self-criticism and body appreciation. RESULTS: Significant differences were found on body appreciation and self-criticism scales according to several variables: gender, anxiety, stress, depression, smoking status, perceived dental health status, current extracted teeth, satisfaction by appearance of own teeth, self-reported gingival condition. When oral health behaviours were analysed we observed that toothbrushing frequency once a day or less was reported mainly in persons with low-levels of body appreciation (P < 0.01) and comparative self-criticism (P < 0.05). Moreover, individuals who visit their dentist mainly when treatment is needed or when in pain were compared with persons who visit their dentist mainly for check-up or for tooth cleaning and scaling; they showed lower levels of body appreciation (P = 0.005), as well as higher levels of comparative self-criticism (P < 0.05), internalized self-criticism (P < 0.05) and total self-criticism (P = 0.009). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that anxiety in everyday life, body appreciation and comparative self-criticism scales were significantly positively associated with oral health status (r2 = 0.144; F = 3.436, P = 0.001), while body appreciation was related also to gingival health-related status (r2 = 0.087; F = 1.943, P = 0.057). When oral health behaviors were evaluated, it was shown that gender and body appreciation scale were positively associated with toothbrushing frequency (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that there is an increased risk for impaired dental health status and behaviour among subjects with low levels of body appreciation and high levels of self-criticism.