OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to create and to validate toothbrushing self-efficacy scales for better comprehension of the structure and pattern of preadolescents' oral-health behaviour. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires with newly created scales: General Toothbrushing Self-Efficacy Scale (TBSES I), Toothbrushing Self-Efficacy Scale under Unexpected Events (TBSES II), and locally modified scales: Child Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale (DSES), Child Beliefs on Oral Health Care Scale (CBOHCS), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), Child Attitude towards General Health Care Scale (CAGHCS) to measure cognitive and emotional factors, as well as other health practices related to oral self-care were used among Turkish, private elementary-school children aged 9-10 (n=69). The questionnaires were completed by 63 children at school under the supervision of teachers.RESULTS: The Cronbach coefficients alpha and nonadditivity measures were calculated and were acceptable for verbal measures (α= 0.67, P= 0.3; α= 0.78, P= 0.5 for TBSES I and TBSES II respectively). TBSES I and TBSES II were positively correlated with child toothbrushing frequency (rs=0.260*), (rs= 0.296*), CBOHCS (r_s= 0.331**), (r_s= 0.359**), and DSES (r_s= 0.507**), (r_s= 0.393**) respectively. TBSES I was positively correlated with SES (r_s= 0.243*) and CAGHCS (r_s=0.286*). TBSES II was positively correlated with child dental-visit frequency (r_s=0.392**), general hygiene practices (r_s=0.302*), and negatively with CDAS (r_s=-0.258*). CONCLUSIONS: Since there has not been any toothbrushing self-efficacy scale for preadolescents, the newly created TBSES I and TBSES II seem to provide promising and valuable tools for better understanding the factors which influence the oral-health behaviour of preadolescents.

Back to the Scientific Program Program
Back to the Joint Meeting of the Continental European, Israeli, and Scandinavian (NOF) Divisions of the IADR (August 25 -- 28, 2004)

Top Level Search