title: Association between self-efficacy and loss to follow-up in long-term periodontal treatment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kakudate
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugai
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagayama
authors.forename: Masamitsu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawanami
authors.forename: Itsuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chiba
mesh_terms: 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