278 - Oral Health Fatalism and Oral Health Self-Efficacy Beliefs Over Time

Abstract:

Purpose: To study changes over time in oral health fatalism (OHF) and oral health self-efficacy (OHSE) in the context of demographic and clinical factors, in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).  

Methods: This exploratory analysis used questionnaire data from 118 Medicaid-eligible families of children with ASD in a multi-site randomized clinical trial of a parent training (PT) intervention supporting home oral hygiene and dental visits at baseline, 3-, and 6-month intervals.  

Results: At baseline, 25% of caregivers disagreed with the statement “Most children eventually develop dental cavities,” endorsing OHF and 11% did not endorse OHSE confidence. At 6-months, 37% of caregivers did not endorse OHF and 5% did not endorse OHSE confidence .  A repeated measures ANOVA test was run to determine the relationship between the effects of treatment and time on OHF and OHSE. No significant difference was found between treatment effect on OHF and OHSE beliefs over time between the intervention and control groups (P>.05). A significant effect was found on OHF change over time within the intervention and toolkit groups (P < .05).  

Conclusions: There was no statistically significant reduction in OHF belief endorsement between baseline and 6-months as a result of the intervention. Within the toolkit and intervention groups, OHF beliefs were less endorsed over time and OHSE confidence improved over time.  

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