Background and Aim: Recognition of factors affecting oral health behaviors in students is a key step in promoting oral health. This study explored the predictive power of constructs in Pender’s Health Promotion Model vis-à-vis oral health behaviors among elementary students in 2016-2017 school year in Nehbandan.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 464 fifth- and sixth-grade Nehbandan-based elementary students who were selected through randomized cluster sampling method. The instrument included the standard questionnaire on constructs of the Health Promotion Model. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS-19 using one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and independent t-test.
Results: Mean age of participants was 11.48±0.79 years. ANOVA showed significant differences between father’s education and the constructs of behavior (P=0.035), interpersonal influences (P=0.05), and situational influences (P=0.011) as well as between mother’s education and self-efficacy (P=0.022). There was a significant difference between gender and toothbrush use (P=0.001) and between gender and regular visit to the dentist (P=0.008). Regression analysis of factors related to oral health behavior showed that with the exception of the coefficients of negative activity-related affect, perceived benefits, perceived barriers and situational influences, the regression coefficients were significant between other constructs of the model and oral health (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Pender’s Health Promotion Behavior can be used as a tested model to change health behaviors