title: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Identify Predictors of Oral Hygiene: A Collection of Unique Behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to identify predictors of performed oral hygiene behaviors (OHBs) based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), oral health knowledge, and demographic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a questionnaire, 381 participants in three general dental offices and one hospital dental department in York, Pennsylvania, were surveyed regarding performed OHB, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, oral health knowledge, income, age, and sex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three unique elements of OHB were identified for analysis: brushing, interdental cleaning, and tongue cleaning. Regression analysis revealed that attitude was the strongest predictor of brushing behavior, followed by oral health knowledge, perceived behavior control, subjective norms, and income. Perceived behavior control was the strongest predictor of interdental cleaning, followed by increased age and attitude. Female sex was the strongest predictor of tongue cleaning, followed by subjective norms, decreased age, and perceived behavior control. Respectively, these three groups of predictive variables explained 22.5% of brushing behavior, 22.7% of interdental cleaning behavior, and 9.5% of tongue cleaning behavior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings highlight the utility of viewing OHB as a set of unique behaviors with unique predictive variables and provide additional support for use of TPB in predicting OHB. Periodontal practitioners should consider the strong associations of attitude and perceived behavioral control with brushing and interdental cleaning behaviors when designing interventional efforts to improve patient home care.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brein
authors.affiliation: The Center for Evaluation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fleenor
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Infection, and Immunology; Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
authors.forename: Soo-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: The Center for Evaluation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krupat
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing
keywords: Chronic periodontitis; health behavior; health knowledge, attitudes, practice; models, psychological; oral hygiene; self efficacy