Dental self-efficacy as a determinant to oral health behaviour, oral hygiene and HbA1(c) level among diabetic patients

Because of a mutual association between severity of periodontitis and poor control of IDDM, regular dental visits and daily oral care are important am ong diabetics. The aim was to develop a method for analysing dental self-ef ficacy and to study the relationship between dental self-efficacy and repor ted oral health behaviour and oral hygiene. The relationship between oral h ealth behaviour and HbA1(c) level was also studied. Data were collected in relation to 149 IDDM patients by means of a quantitative questionnaire, eva luation of dental plaque and patient records. Results showed that tooth bru shing self-efficacy, approximal cleaning self-efficacy and dental visiting self-efficacy related to corresponding reported oral health behaviour (p<0. 0005). Visible plaque index (VPI) correlated inversely with tooth brushing self-efficacy (r(s)= -0.208, p=0.012) and dental visiting self-efficacy (r( s) = -0.240, p=0.004). Approximal cleaning self-efficacy correlated with ag e (r(s)=0.225, p=0.006) and dental visiting self-efficacy was related to hi gher professional level of education (p=0.009). Those having better tooth b rushing self-efficacy (p=0.020), higher frequency of tooth brushing (p = 0. 032) and lower VPI (p<0.0005) had better HbAl(c) level. It was concluded th at perception of dental self-efficacy plays a decisive role in relation to oral health behaviour in diabetic patients, and that compliance with dental recommendations is also related to HbAl(c) level.