Association between self-efficacy and loss to follow-up in long-term periodontal treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether or not oral health care-specific self-efficacy can predict loss to follow-up for long-term periodontal treatment.


METHODS
Our prospective cohort study enrolled 144 patients with chronic periodontitis. Patient self-efficacy was assessed on the initial visit using the self-efficacy scale for self-care (SESS). Participants were then followed for 30 months from the onset of periodontal treatment. The loss to follow-up is the main outcome variable. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between self-efficacy for self-care and loss to follow-up for periodontal treatment. Gender, age, number of teeth, probing depth, plaque control record (PCR) value, PCR improvement rate, general self-efficacy scale score, and SESS score were used as the independent variables, and loss to follow-up as a dependent variable.


RESULTS
A total of 67 patients were lost to follow-up over the course of the study. Compared with the high-scoring SESS group (60-75), the odds ratio of loss to follow-up for the middle- (54-59) and low-scoring groups (15-53) were 1.05 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36-3.07] and 4.56 (95% CI: 1.11-18.74), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment of oral health care-specific self-efficacy may be useful in predicting loss to follow-up in long-term periodontal treatment.
Kakudate
Naoki
N
Department of Oral Growth and Development, Division of Disease Control & Molecular Epidemiology, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Japan. kakudate@hoku-iryo-u.ac.jp
Morita
Manabu
M
Yamazaki
Shin
S
Fukuhara
Shunichi
S
Sugai
Makoto
M
Nagayama
Masato
M
Kawanami
Masamitsu
M
Chiba
Itsuo
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012647:Self-Assessment; D055815:Young Adult