Promoting oral hygiene behavior in recruits in the Dutch Army.
OBJECTIVE
To make practical recommendations for improving oral hygiene behavior (OHB) potential predictors based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) were assessed. Measurements of oral health knowledge (OHK) and the expected social effect for having healthy teeth were included.


METHODS
216 recruits in the Dutch Army ground forces completed a questionnaire about oral hygiene behavior, attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), intention to perform optimal OHB, OHK, and expected social outcomes.


RESULTS
The multivariate regression analysis revealed that attitude and PBC explained 37.2% of the variance in intention to perform optimal oral hygiene behavior, which is a substantial proportion. Furthermore, actual oral hygiene behavior was only predicted by attitude, explaining 7.1% of the variance.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that recruits' oral hygiene behavior may be improved by promoting a more positive attitude and especially by enhancing perceived behavior control.
Research Group in Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University Applied Sciences, Groningen Eyssoniusplein 18, Postbus 3109, 9701 DC, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Yvonne A B
YA
Buunk-Werkhoven
Arie
A
Dijkstra
Henk
H
van der Wal
Nina
N
Basic
Steven A
SA
Loomans
Cees P
CP
van der Schans
Rob
R
van der Meer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009426:Netherlands; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires