Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene (한국치위생학회지)
- Volume 8 Issue 4
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- Pages.55-64
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- 2008
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- 2287-1705(pISSN)
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- 2288-2294(eISSN)
The Factors to Affect the Oral Health Promotion Behavior of Elementary School Students
초등학생의 구강건강증진행위에 영향을 미치는 요인
- Kim, Soo-Kyung (Department of Dantal Hygiene, Shinheung College)
- 김수경 (신흥대학 치위생과)
- Received : 2008.10.16
- Accepted : 2008.12.19
- Published : 2008.12.30
Abstract
This study set out to identify the factors to affect the oral health promotion behavior of elementary school students and to provide a framework to develop educational programs to promote their oral health promotion behavior. A survey was conducted to 729 fifth and sixth graders attending four elementary schools in Seoul. The variables were measured with a five-point Likert scale and include previous oral health related behaviors, perceived oral health status, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and oral health promotion behavior. First, the subjects scored relatively high 3.51 points out of 5 in oral health promotion behavior. They also scored 3.88 points in perceived benefit, 3.51 in selfesteem, 3.43 in self-efficacy, 3.28 in perceived oral health status, 2.77 in previous oral health related behaviors, and 1.79 in perceived barriers. Second, a significant difference was observed according to gender in previous oral health related behaviors and oral health promotion behavior. And a significant difference was also found according to grade in previous oral health related behaviors, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, selfesteem, self-efficacy, and oral health promotion behavior. Third, when they had an experience of visiting a dental clinic for preventive purposes, a significant difference was found according to the purposes of going to a dentist in previous oral health related behaviors, perceived benefit, and oral health promotion behavior. And fourth, multiple regression analysis was carried out with oral health promotion behavior as a dependent variable. As a result, all the research variables, which include previous oral health related behaviors, perceived oral health status, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, self-esteem, and self-efficacy, turned out to have significant influences on oral health promotion behavior. And their explanatory power was 49%. Conclusion: Those factors that were identified to affect the oral health promotion behavior of programs to promote their oral health.
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