Factors predicting oral health-related behaviors in diabetic patients using Pender's Oral Health Promotion Model

Identification of factors affecting oral health behaviors is a key step for promotion of oral health in diabetic patients. The aim of the present study was to determine factors predicting oral health behaviors in diabetic patients, using the Pender's Oral Health Promotion Model.
A total of 256 diabetic patients were included in this cross-sectional study voluntarily using a continuous random sampling technique. A self-report researcher-designed questionnaire was used to collect data in order to measure the constructs related to Pender's Oral Health Promotion Model in diabetic patients. Data was analyzed with one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear regression (α = 0.05).
The frequency of toothbrushing behavior in patients was 1.14 ± 0.73 times daily. Self-care behaviors related to oral health (r = 0.118), perceived benefits (r = 0.107) and the commitment to action (r = 0.130) increased with an increase in educational level. All the variables exhibited significant correlation with Pender’s Oral Health Promotion model, except for the correlations between interpersonal construct norms and interpersonal modeling and oral health, and correlations between self-efficacy and negative fillings and perceived benefits. The Model predicted 48.3% of the variance in oral health behaviors in diabetic patients.
The emphasis is on identifying barriers and weaknesses of self-efficacy and strategies to promote it and maximize the role of structural commitment to actions in order to increase the efficacy of educational programs for diabetic patients.