title: Development and validation of a scale measuring the locus of control orientation in relation to socio-dental effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a socio-dental impact locus of control scale (SILOC) and to study its relationship with oral health status as well as dental attendance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational cross-sectional study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A seven-item SILOC scale based on locus of control and the WHO international classification of diseases' criteria for "Disability" in relation to oral health was developed. In the pilot study, 100 adolescent school children returned completed forms containing the multidimensional health locus of control (MHLC) and the (SILOC) scale. After confirmation of reliability and validity, 509 adolescent school children returned completed SILOC questionnaires and were examined for caries, plaque and gingivitis. A history of postponement of needed dental treatment was also elicited.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SILOC scores were highly correlated with the MHLC scores. Factor analysis revealed a two-factor solution accounting for 59 % of the variance. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.75 showed its internal consistency. Those with higher SILOC scores had greater levels of caries, plaque, gingivitis, and a history of postponing needed dental visits. Multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounders showed that those with high SILOC scores were more likely to have caries (OR = 3.32, p < 0.001), plaque (OR = 1.83, p = 0.026), gingivitis (OR = 1.80, p = 0.012) and a history of 'Postponement of needed dental treatment' (OR = 4.5, p < 0.001) as compared with the others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SILOC scale showed satisfactory reliability and validity in measuring locus of control orientation in an Indian adolescent population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, 576104, India, shashidhar_acharya@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Pentapati
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Singhal
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Thakur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007194:India; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations; D009909:Oral Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012923:Social Class