Modeling the theory of planned behavior for intention to improve oral health behaviors: the impact of attitudes, knowledge, and current behavior

Predictors of intention to marriage based on theory of planned behavior among university students in Iran

Introduction

Marriage is a social capital in society, so that makes the behavioral and social stability of parents and children in a generation, productive. Various factors can affect the intention of marriage, including individual, economic, social and cultural factors. The present study aimed to determine predictors of university students’ intention to marriage based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Methods

This cross-sectional study was performed among 192 single students (Master and PhD students with five to seven years of dentistry and medicine) in Hamadan, in 2014. The samples in this study were selected through convenient sampling. The data collection tools were demographic and TPB questionnaires. A questionnaire based on the TPB model was used in order to assess attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention. Data were analyzed by using SPSS16 and descriptive indexes, independent-samples t-test, One-way ANOVA and multivariate linear regression at 95% significant level.

Results

The results showed that attitudes toward marriage (β=0.217; p=0.001), subjective norms (β=0.366; p<0.001), and perceived behavioral control (β=0.279; p<0.001) significantly predicted students’ intention to marriage. The TPB constructs explained 44% of the variance of intention.

Conclusion

Results indicated that strategies to improve the intention of marriage can include: expression of psychological needs such as having a companion, the importance of responsibility, society attitude of marriage, parents and marriage, the importance of the decision-making power and job position.

Factors influencing the provision of oral hygiene care following stroke: an application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine "intention to" and "performance of" oral hygiene care to stroke patients using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A large scale survey of 13 centers in Malaysia was conducted involving 806 nurses in relation to oral hygiene care intentions and practices. In addition, information on personal and environmental factors was collected.

RESULTS

The response rate was 95.6% (778/806). The domains of the Theory of Planned Behavior were significantly associated with general intention to perform oral hygiene care: attitudes (β = 0.21, p < 0.001), subjective norms (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), perceived behavior control (β = 0.04, p < 0.001); after controlling for personal and environmental factors. Approximately two-thirds (63.4%, 493) reported the performance of some form of oral hygiene care for patients. This behavior was associated with general intention scores (OR =1.13, 95%CI =1.05-1.22, p <0.01), controlling for other factors. Knowledge scores, training, access to oral hygiene guidelines and kits, as well as working ward type were identified as key factors associated with intention and practice of oral hygiene care.

CONCLUSION

The Theory of Planned Behavior provides understanding of "intention to" and "performance of" oral hygiene care to stroke patients. Several provider and environmental factors were also associated with intentions and practices. This has implications for understanding and improving the implementation of oral hygiene care in stroke rehabilitation. Implications for Rehabilitation Oral hygiene care is crucial for stroke patients as it can prevent oral health problems and potentially life threatening events (such as aspiration pneumonia). Despite oral hygiene care being relative simple to perform, it is often neglected during stroke rehabilitation. A large-scale national survey was conducted to understand "intentions to" and "performance of" oral hygiene care to stroke patients using the Theory of Planned Behavior social cognition model. These study findings may have implications and use in promoting oral hygiene care to stroke patients:i) by understanding the pathways and influences to perform oral hygiene care.ii) to conduct health promotion and health education based on behavioral models such as Theory of Planned Behavior.

Cárie dentária em crianças de 5 anos: fatores sociodemográficos, lócus de controle e atitudes parentais

Resumo A cárie dentária afeta grande parte das crianças, principalmente as de baixo nível socioeconômico. Neste estudo, de delineamento transversal, objetivou-se investigar o papel de fatores sociodemográficos, atitudes parentais e do Lócus de Controle, indicador da percepção pessoal sobre o que controla a saúde do sujeito, na prevalência de cárie em pré-escolares de cinco anos, moradores de cidade de médio porte paulista. Avaliou-se o índice ceo-d de 426 crianças; os pais informaram sobre as características sociodemográficas, responderam a dois questionários de Lócus de Controle e um de atitudes parentais. Os resultados mostraram que 52,35% dos pré-escolares apresentaram cárie, com a severa em níveis mais altos nos estratos mais baixos E-F. Nível socioeconômico mais alto e baixa externalidade mostraram-se como fatores de proteção. Baixa internalidade parental apareceu como um fator de risco para cárie nos dentes decíduos, possivelmente porque a mãe espera ou delega a ação a outros, retardando os cuidados. A percepção parental de controle sobre a saúde do filho parece favorecer cuidados preventivos e, consequentemente, o nível de cárie da criança.

Effect of education based on the theory of planned behavior on adoption of oral health behaviors of pregnant women referred to health centers of Birjand in 2016

OBJECTIVE

Oral health of pregnant women is very important because of the adverse effects of pregnancy on the oral hard and soft tissues and vice versa. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of education on oral health behaviors of pregnant women based on the theory of planned behavior in Birjand.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This quasi-experimental study was carried out among 150 pregnant women admitted to health centers, who were selected using simple sampling (75 females in each case and control group). Educational program through face-to-face training was performed in the case group, and the control group received only usual training through leaflet distribution. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 18 software at 0.05 significance level.

RESULTS

The most frequent age group was 26-30 years. Before the intervention, the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, behavioral intention, and performance of the intervention and control groups showed no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05). After the intervention, the average of all scores in the intervention group showed significant increase compared to the control group (P ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Face-to-face training using the theory of planned behavior has positive impact on oral health behaviors of pregnant women. Accordingly, training sessions in order to raising awareness and positive attitude and controlling healthcare behaviors can improve oral health behaviors of pregnant women.

School-Based Educational Intervention to Improve Children's Oral Health-Related Knowledge

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a brief oral health promotion intervention delivered in schools by a primary care dental practice, aimed at changing oral health care knowledge and oral health-related behaviors in children.

DESIGN

Cohort study with pretest-posttest design.

SETTING

Three primary schools.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and fifty children (aged 9-12 years).

INTERVENTION

Children received a 60-minute theory-driven classroom-based interactive educational session delivered by a dental care professional and received take-home literature on oral health.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

All children completed a questionnaire on oral health-related knowledge and self-reported oral health-related behaviors before, immediately after, and 6 weeks following the intervention.

RESULTS

Children's dental knowledge significantly improved following the intervention, with improvement evident at immediate follow-up and maintained 6 weeks later. Significantly more children reported using dental floss 6 weeks after the intervention compared with baseline. No significant differences were detected in toothbrushing or dietary behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

School-based preventative oral health education delivered by primary care dental practices can generate short-term improvements in children's knowledge of oral health and some aspects of oral hygiene behavior. Future research should engage parents/carers and include objective clinical and behavioral outcomes in controlled study designs.

Palliative care for those with heart failure: nurses' knowledge, attitude, and preparedness to practice

BACKGROUND

Palliative care is an important element of holistic care but has received little attention in cardiac disease patients. The purpose of the paper is (a) to investigate nurses' knowledge of palliative care, attitudes toward care of the dying, coping with death, and preparedness to practice palliative care for those with heart failure, and (b) to evaluate influencing factors on preparedness to practice on palliative care.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive design employed a structured questionnaire that tested nurses' knowledge, attitude, coping, and preparedness to practice on palliative care for patients with heart failure. Ninety nurses in two tertiary university hospitals in South Korea participated in the survey. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression.

RESULTS

Results showed low levels of knowledge reported (an average of 48.3% correct answers), attitude (134.8±110.1), coping (117.2±24.3), and preparedness to practice (17.3±4.7) relating to palliative care. The extent of knowledge was related to both attitudes and coping. These attitudes and coping skills were related to preparedness to practice. The multiple regression analysis showed that preparedness to practice was explained by coping and attitude (R (2) =0.46, F=6.1, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative care training is urgently needed to improve knowledge, attitude, coping, and preparedness to practice. Guidance to assist healthcare professionals involved in palliative care for those with cardiac disease needs to be developed and provided.

Exploring motivations to seek and undergo prosthodontic care: an empirical approach using the Theory of Planned Behavior construct

Motivations for seeking and undergoing prosthodontic care are poorly understood and are not often explored for clinical purposes when determining treatment need and understanding the factors related to the demand for health care and effective use. This article uses the Theory of Planned Behavior construct to identify factors related to the motivations of edentulous subjects to seek and undergo prosthodontic treatment. The conceptual framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior includes attitude toward behavior, an individual's positive or negative evaluation of self-performance of the particular behavior; the subjective norm, an individual's perception of social normative pressures or relevant others' beliefs that he or she should or should not perform such behavior; and perceived behavioral control, or an individual's perceived ease or difficulty in performing the particular behavior, determined by the total set of accessible control beliefs. These components mediate a subject's intention and behavior toward an object and may also explain health-related behaviors, providing strong predictions across a range of health behaviors. This study suggests categories for each component of the Theory of Planned Behavior, based on clinical evidence and practical reasoning. Attitudes toward behavior include perceived consequences of no treatment, perceived potential benefits and risks of treatment, dental anxiety, previous experiences, and interpersonal abilities of the health care providers. The subjective norm includes the opinions of relevant others, advertisement, professionally defined normative need, perceived professional skills, and technical quality of care. Perceived behavioral control includes subject's time, availability and opportunity, treatment costs, subject's perceived need, and accessibility to dental care. This conceptual model represents a theoretical multidimensional model that may help clinicians better understand the patient's treatment behaviors and provide additional information for clinical research on patient's adherence to interventions in prosthodontics.