Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Int J Dent Hyg. 2022 Nov;20(4):593-600. doi: 10.1111/idh.12610. Epub 2022 Aug 15.
Self-efficacy is a strong health predictor as it affects patients' certainty about their ability to perform recommended behaviours to improve their health. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between perceived self-efficacy and oral health behaviours among adolescents.
A convenience sample of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old was recruited from the University of Alberta dental clinic. Demographics, oral health behaviours, self-rated oral health and task-specific and general self-efficacy were assessed using a questionnaire with three sections. For the comparisons of outcomes across different categories, Student t-test, multivariate regression and chi-squared tests were used.
A total of 252 adolescents with average (SD) age of 14 (1.7) years participated in the study; 60% were girls; 81% were born in Canada; 56% were White; and 61% had dental coverage. Demographic characteristics had no significant correlation with general self-efficacy. However, correlation coefficients indicated that younger adolescents had higher dietary self-efficacy (negative correlation), girls had higher toothbrushing and dental visit self-efficacy, and those with dental coverage had higher dental visit self-efficacy. A significant association was found between toothbrushing, dietary habits and dental visits self-efficacy (subscales of task-specific self-efficacy) and their respective outcomes (frequency of toothbrushing, sugar intake and regular dentist visits). General self-efficacy was significantly associated with frequency of toothbrushing and participant's self-rated oral health.
Higher task-specific and general self-efficacy correlated with better oral health behaviours among adolescents. Therefore, behavioural interventions should be designed to enhance self-efficacy among adolescents in order to improve their oral health outcomes.
自我效能感是一个强有力的健康预测指标，因为它会影响患者对执行改善健康的推荐行为的能力的确定性。本研究旨在探讨青少年感知自我效能感与口腔健康行为之间的关系。
从阿尔伯塔大学牙科诊所招募了 12 至 18 岁的便利样本青少年。使用三个部分的问卷评估人口统计学资料、口腔健康行为、自我评估的口腔健康以及特定任务和一般自我效能感。为了比较不同类别之间的结果，使用学生 t 检验、多元回归和卡方检验。
共有 252 名平均（SD）年龄为 14（1.7）岁的青少年参与了研究；60%为女孩；81%在加拿大出生；56%为白人；61%有牙齿保险。人口统计学特征与一般自我效能感无显著相关性。然而，相关系数表明，年龄较小的青少年具有更高的饮食自我效能感（负相关），女孩具有更高的刷牙和看牙医自我效能感，而有牙齿保险的人具有更高的看牙医自我效能感。刷牙、饮食习惯和看牙医自我效能感（特定任务自我效能感的子量表）及其各自的结果（刷牙频率、糖摄入量和定期看牙医）之间存在显著关联。一般自我效能感与刷牙频率和参与者自我评估的口腔健康显著相关。
较高的特定任务和一般自我效能感与青少年更好的口腔健康行为相关。因此，应设计行为干预措施来增强青少年的自我效能感，以改善他们的口腔健康结果。
