The aim of this study was to investigate the factor structure of the 15-ite
m Dental Beliefs Survey (DBS) in a population of dental phobic patients (n
= 362). Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were used.
The EFA indicated three factors: 'communication', 'trust', and 'fear of ne
gative information'. However, the EFA further suggested a general factor wi
th all 15 items. By using the CFA, five factors were found based on the EFA
solution and the original DBS dimensions. A general factor, 'social intera
ction distress in dental treatment', and four more narrow dimensions, 'comm
unication', 'trust', 'fear of negative information' (originally labelled 'b
elittlement'), and 'lack of control', was the most adequate result with reg
ard to theoretical and statistical properties. However, some items in the f
actors were partly different from the original version of the DBS. In concl
usion, the DBS attempts to measure a complex phenomenon with regard to pati
ents' perceptions and attitudes to dental care. This study has revealed psy
chometric properties of the DBS in a population of dental phobic patients.
The important finding was a general dimension, which suggests the use of DB
S as an overall measure of dental beliefs. However, more research is needed
in epidemiological and clinical studies with non-phobic individuals.