TABLE 2.
Percentage (%) of responses for all items, grouped in the four dimensions (n = 2167)
| Item | Agree/completely agree (%) | Disagree/completely disagree (%) | No idea (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self‐efficacy (Cronbach's α 0.442) | |||
| I know how to prevent oral yeast infections | 76.8 | 8.1 | 15.2 |
| I know how oral mucosal wounds can be treated | 34.1 | 32.4 | 33.6 |
| I know how to use dental floss correctly | 90.4 | 4.5 | 5.1 |
| I can successfully remove the majority of plaque to prevent cavities and gum disease | 40.5 | 35.3 | 24.2 |
| Using toothbrush and dental floss correctly can prevent tooth problems | 92.8 | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| If I were given oral health care training, I would be better able to perform oral hygiene for older people | 81.0 | 8.8 | 10.2 |
| If I knew more about dental diseases, I would be able to practice better oral care for older people | 79.0 | 9.2 | 11.8 |
| Internal locus of control (Cronbach's α 0.569) | |||
| Tooth cavitation can be prevented | 88.8 | 7.8 | 3.4 |
| Tooth brushing can help prevent tooth cavitation | 97.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| Gum diseases can be prevented | 82.2 | 6.7 | 11.1 |
| I believe teeth can be preserved for a lifetime | 57.2 | 33.3 | 9.5 |
| I think dental floss can prevent tooth loss | 77.9 | 8.2 | 13.9 |
| I think older people desire help with oral hygiene | 76.8 | 10.0 | 13.2 |
| I think older people eat better with a healthy mouth | 94.3 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| External locus of control (Cronbach's α 0.642) | |||
| Tooth brushing and using dental floss do not help if your own parents had bad teeth | 10.6 | 82.0 | 7.4 |
| I think that tooth loss is normal when you are getting old | 21.9 | 64.3 | 13.8 |
| Even if you take good care of your teeth, they fall out as you get older | 13.6 | 76.9 | 9.5 |
| Only the dentist can prevent teeth cavitation and gum diseases | 9.5 | 87.7 | 2.8 |
| It is not possible to prevent sickness/medicines destroying teeth | 42.7 | 36.5 | 20.8 |
| One method of brushing is just as effective as any other | 21.5 | 61.1 | 17.4 |
| I think dentures can stay in the mouth even at night time | 22.7 | 67.7 | 9.6 |
| Oral health care beliefs (Cronbach's α 0.544) | |||
| Visiting the dentist is only necessary when experiencing pain in the teeth | 9.0 | 88.5 | 2.5 |
| Once gum disease has started, it is almost impossible to stop it | 19.4 | 43.5 | 37.1 |
| If the gums bleed while tooth brushing, you should stop brushing | 3.8 | 93.9 | 2.3 |
| If the gums bleed while using dental floss, you should stop flossing | 5.5 | 88.5 | 6.0 |
| I think older people will say if they need help with oral hygiene | 21.2 | 70.8 | 8.0 |
| Use of fluoride is most suitable for children | 12.3 | 72.3 | 15.4 |
| I think dentures create fewer problems than natural teeth | 32.2 | 50.3 | 17.5 |