Combined use of self-efficacy scale for oral health behaviour and oral health questionnaire: A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether the combined use of a task-specific self-efficacy scale for oral health behaviour (SEOH) and an oral health questionnaire (OHQ) would be useful for evaluating subjects’ behaviours and cognitions. Design: Questionnaires. Methods: One hundred and eighty-five students completed the SEOH and OHQ. The 30-item OHQ uses a nominal scale, and the 25-item SEOH includes four subscales with items rated on a five-point Likert scale. The SEOH score of each student was evaluated on the basis of the sum of all scores. The relationship between SEOH scores, including scores on all subscales, and observed values on the OHQ was examined using chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. Results: Female subjects exhibited higher average scores than male subjects on both the SEOH and self-efficacy scale. Logistic regression analysis revealed eight significant interactions between scores on the SEOH, including its subscales, and OHQ items for male and 10 significant interactions for female. Conclusion: Combining the SEOH and the OHQ is useful as a psychological criterion for the clinical assessment and prediction of motivation and skills with respect to oral health behaviour.