Self-efficacy perceptions in oral health behavior

The aim of this paper is to describe and understand people's views on denta l self-efficacy and its Formation. The qualitative data were collected by m eans of focused interviews with five patients selected on the basis of poor orientation to dental-care matters: measured using test scores from a prev ious questionnaire. The first stage of the analysis is a description of the background of the subjects from their own accounts; two proved to have int ernalized preventive dental beliefs and behavior deeply, while two others h ad traumatic experiences as a reason for irregular dental appointments. One subject with poor oral health behavior seemed to hale limited preventive a ction to his yearly dental appointment. The second stage of the analysis fo cuses on interpretation of the subjects' perception of self-efficacy and re lated comments. Among sources of self-efficacy that prove important in dent al care are the cognitive, experiential, supportive and emotional dimension s? and beliefs and values learned in the family and at school. This qualita tive research increases our understanding of the oral health behavior of pa tients and emphasizes the importance of patient-centered oral health educat ion.