Determinants of oral hygiene behavior: a study based on the theory of planned behavior.
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings indicate that socio-psychological consequences play a role in oral health care.
Department of Social Psychology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. yvonne@apbuunk.com
Yvonne A B
YA
Buunk-Werkhoven
Arie
A
Dijkstra
Cees P
CP
van der Schans
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D003697:Delphi Technique; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011584:Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult