Self-efficacy and self-rated oral health among pregnant aboriginal Australian women

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-efficacy plays an important role in oral health-related behaviours. There is little known about associations between self-efficacy and subjective oral health among populations at heightened risk of dental disease. This study aimed to determine if low self-efficacy was associated with poor self-rated oral health after adjusting for confounding among a convenience sample of pregnant women.MethodsWe used self-reported data from 446 Australian women pregnant with an Aboriginal child (age range 14–43 years) to evaluate self-rated oral health, self-efficacy and socio-demographic, psychosocial, social cognitive and risk factors. Hierarchical entry of explanatory variables into logistic regression models estimated prevalence odds ratios (POR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for fair or poor self-rated oral health.ResultsIn an unadjusted model, those with low self-efficacy had 2.40 times the odds of rating their oral health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ (95% CI 1.54–3.74). Addition of socio-demographic factors attenuated the effect of low self-efficacy on poor self-rated oral health by 10 percent (POR 2.19, 95% CI 1.37–3.51). Addition of the psychosocial factors attenuated the odds by 17 percent (POR 2.07, 95% CI 1.28–3.36), while addition of the social cognitive variable fatalism increased the odds by 1 percent (POR 2.42, 95% CI 1.55–3.78). Inclusion of the behavioural risk factor ‘not brushing previous day’ attenuated the odds by 15 percent (POR 2.11, 95%CI 1.32–3.36). In the final model, which included all covariates, the odds were attenuated by 32 percent (POR 1.80, 95% CI 1.05, 3.08).ConclusionsLow self-efficacy persisted as a risk indicator for poor self-rated oral health after adjusting for confounding among this vulnerable population.

Socioeconomic and psychosocial associations with oral health impact and general health

“…Self‐efficacy has been associated with dental behaviours such as flossing, tooth brushing and dental attendance . In addition, self‐efficacy has been associated with completion of periodontal treatment, toothbrush ownership and oral health literacy, as well as oral health such as gingival bleeding, progression of periodontal disease and self‐rated oral health . In clinical dental practice, assessment and enhancement of oral‐care specific self‐efficacy is recommended to promote behaviour modification …”

“…36 In addition, self-efficacy has been associated with completion of periodontal treatment, 37 toothbrush ownership 38 and oral health literacy, 39 as well as oral health such as gingival bleeding, 40 progression of periodontal disease 41 and self-rated oral health. 42 In clinical dental practice, assessment and enhancement of oral-care specific self-efficacy is recommended to promote behaviour modification. 43 Negative affectivity was another psychosocial variable consistently associated with both oral health and general health in this study.…”

Impacto de la salud oral en la calidad de vida de la gestante

“…Reconociendo que la población inmigrante residente en España, visita al dentista con menos frecuencia que la población autóctona, independientemente del país de origen (39) y teniendo presente las observaciones de Jamieson quien destacó sobre la población general, que aquellos pacientes que realizaban un cepillado dentario en los días previos a la participación del programa mejoraban su percepción de su salud oral (40); creemos que se debería de potenciar desde la sanidad pública la prevención de las enfermedades orales más prevalentes.…”

“…También se ha intentado reducir al mínimo cualquier desviación idiomática a la hora de interpretar las preguntas del cuestionario OHIP-14, posibilidad que ya ha sido encontrada en estudios previos en embarazadas (40). Tampoco se puede descartar que el posible sesgo recordatorio haya podido influir en los resultados.…”

Oral health beliefs and behaviors of nurse and nurse practitioner students using the HU-DBI inventory: An opportunity for oral health vicarious learning

“…It is also a causative factor in poorer oral health outcomes. [37][38][39] Additionally, some nurse and nurse practitioner students in our sample performed personal oral hygiene based upon outdated practices, including the use of hard bristled brushes and strong brushing strokes. These are not recommended because of the likelihood of damage to the gingival tissues and subsequent gingival recession.…”