Use of Dental Coping Beliefs Scale to measure cognitive changes following oral hygiene interventions

This study employed a recently developed questionnaire, the Dental Coping Beliefs Scale (DCBS), to evaluate the effect of oral hygiene interventions on dental beliefs. The DCBS was administered to 100 subjects. Compared to an untreated control group, there was an increase in the ability to improve oral health through self-effort for the three experimental interventions: Attention (AI), Education (El) and Cognitive Behavioral (CBI). When the Dental Coping Beliefs Scale was divided into scales of Internal Locus of Control, External Locus of Control, Self-Efficacy, and Oral Health Beliefs, additional changes were evident. For the CBI Group, all four scales changed significantly between baseline measurement and post-intervention toward beliefs favoring control and prevention of dental disease using brushing and flossing. For the A and E groups, three scales paralleled the results of the CBI: Internal Locus of Control and Self-Efficacy increased and External Locus of Control decreased after the intervention. However, unlike the CBI, Oral Health Beliefs did not significantly change. Overall, for all experimental groups, there was a shift from external locus of control beliefs to internal beliefs. The untreated Control Group showed no changes across the five weeks. This study was supported by a VA Medical Research Service Merit Review Award.