Abstract
This research was aimed at developing a task-specific self-efficacy scale for self-care (SESS) for periodontal disease patients and examining its reliability and validity. In the preliminary stage, a scale consisting of 43 items was designed and applied to 61 periodontal disease patients, and subsequently, 15 items were selected for inclusion in the SESS. A survey using this scale was further conducted on 189 periodontal disease patients in order to verify the reliability and validity of the SESS. Three factors were extracted from the factor analysis, as follows : “self-efficacy for dentist consultations”, “self-efficacy for brushing of the teeth”, and “self-efficacy for dietary habits.” The SESS showed sufficient internal consistency(Cronbach's α = 0.86). Significant correlations in the scores of the SESS were observed between tests and re-tests (r = 0.73), indicating that the scale is highly reliable. The SESS score showed significant correlations with the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) scores (r = 0.44), which suggests concurrent validity. The mean % reduction in the Plaque Control Record following instructions on brushing of teeth was significantly higher in the patients with high SESS scores than in those with low scores (p<0.05). This result is indicative of the predictive validity of SESS. Since patients in the maintenance phase had significantly higher SESS scores than the initial-visit patients (p<0.001), the construct validity of the scale was inferred. These results suggest that the SESS has a high reliability and validity and will endure research applications in clinical practice.
Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Periodontol) 49 : 285 - 295, 2007.
