Yvonne A. B. Buunk-Werkhoven

Determinants of oral hygiene behavior: a study based on the theory of planned behavior

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to develop an index for oral hygiene behavior (OHB) and to examine potential predictors of this actual behavior based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Measures of oral health knowledge (OHK) and the expected effect of having healthy teeth on social relationships were included too. MATERIAL AND METHODS Using an Internet questionnaire, 487 participants were asked about actual OHB, attitudes (ATT), social norms (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), OHK, and expected social outcomes (ESO). Based on a Delphi method involving oral health professionals, a new index for OHB was developed, including tooth brushing, interdental cleaning, and tongue cleaning. RESULTS Regression analysis revealed that the TPB variables (ATT, SN, and PBC) and OHK explained 32.3% of the variance in self-reported OHB. CONCLUSION The present findings indicate that socio-psychological consequences play a role in oral health care.

Determinants and promotion of oral hygiene behaviour in the Caribbean and Nepal

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of oral hygiene behaviour (OHB) based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) among dental care seekers in two cultural different regions: the Caribbean (Aruba/Bonaire) and Nepal. In addition, measures of oral health knowledge (OHK) and the expected social outcomes of having healthy teeth (ESO) were investigated. The main effects of the predictors as well as their interactions with region (Caribbean vs. Nepal) were examined. The interaction term contributed significantly to the amount of explained variance. In the Caribbean, OHB was determined by Attitude and Social Norms, and in Nepal by Perceived Behaviour Control and ESO. On the basis of these findings, quite different oral health care interventions are called for in developing and underdeveloped countries.

Halitosis and oral health-related quality of life: a case report.

OBJECTIVES This is a clinical case of a 36-year-old Dutch male, patient in the Dr. S. van Mesdag Forensic Psychiatric Centre in Groningen. It demonstrates a short-time effect of a tailored oral hygiene self-care intervention in three sessions over a period of 3 months on halitosis and a patients oral health-related quality of life (OH-QoL). METHODS In addition to a dental screening and professional oral hygiene care, a semi-structured interview was conducted by the dental hygienist, and questionnaires were administered. The questionnaires included were; the Dutch version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14-NL; used as a measurement of OH-QoL), scales for expected social outcomes for having healthy teeth, attitudes towards oral hygiene behaviour (OHB) and dental anxiety. RESULTS Clinical observations showed an improvement in patients OHB, while the extreme foetor-ex-ore was reduced to an acceptable level. A retrospective assessment showed that patients attitude towards the recommended OHB together with his self-perceived OH-QoL had positively increased. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the value of professional individual oral hygiene instructions performed by a dental hygienist. It also illustrates that a patients effective OHB may play an important role in the reduction in halitosis and self-perceived OH-QoL. Finally, the retrospective version of the OHIP-14-NL may be an adequate method to assess self-perceived OH-QoL within a relative short period of time.

Halitosis and oral health-related quality of life

OBJECTIVES This is a clinical case of a 36-year-old Dutch male, patient in the Dr. S. van Mesdag Forensic Psychiatric Centre in Groningen. It demonstrates a short-time effect of a tailored oral hygiene self-care intervention in three sessions over a period of 3 months on halitosis and a patients oral health-related quality of life (OH-QoL). METHODS In addition to a dental screening and professional oral hygiene care, a semi-structured interview was conducted by the dental hygienist, and questionnaires were administered. The questionnaires included were; the Dutch version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14-NL; used as a measurement of OH-QoL), scales for expected social outcomes for having healthy teeth, attitudes towards oral hygiene behaviour (OHB) and dental anxiety. RESULTS Clinical observations showed an improvement in patients OHB, while the extreme foetor-ex-ore was reduced to an acceptable level. A retrospective assessment showed that patients attitude towards the recommended OHB together with his self-perceived OH-QoL had positively increased. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the value of professional individual oral hygiene instructions performed by a dental hygienist. It also illustrates that a patients effective OHB may play an important role in the reduction in halitosis and self-perceived OH-QoL. Finally, the retrospective version of the OHIP-14-NL may be an adequate method to assess self-perceived OH-QoL within a relative short period of time.