BMC Oral Health
Volume 18, Issue 1, 2018

Factors associated with seeking preventive dental care: An integrative model exploration of behaviors in Mexican immigrants in Midwest America (Article) (Open Access)

Macy J.T.* , Moser E.A.S. , Hirsh A.T. , Monahan P.O. , Eckert G.J. , Maupomé G.
  • a Indiana University School of Public Health, Department of Applied Health Science, 1025 East 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
  • b Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
  • c Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
  • d Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
  • e Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
  • f Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, United States, Indiana University Network Science Institute, Bloomington, IN, United States

Abstract

Background: Mexican immigrants in the United States suffer from poor oral health. The objective of the current study was to explore the utility of applying theory-based factors associated with seeking preventive dental care in a sample of Mexican American adults. Methods: Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of a sample of 157 people of Mexican origin (64% female; age 34±11 years) recruited primarily from church congregations and lay community organizations in Central Indiana. Using the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction as the guiding framework, structural equation modeling was used to test factors associated with intention to seek preventive dental care. Results: Attitude towards seeking preventive dental care (estimate=0.37; p<.0001) and self-efficacy for seeking preventive dental care (estimate=0.68; p<.0001) were associated with intention to seek preventive dental care. The association between dental beliefs and intention to seek preventive dental care was mediated by attitude and self-efficacy (indirect effect=0.26, p=.002), and the association between past behavior and intention to seek preventive dental care was mediated by self-efficacy (indirect effect=0.26, p=.003). Conclusions: These findings suggest that interventions to increase preventive dental care seeking behavior among Mexican Americans should focus on changing attitudes toward seeking preventive dental care and on increasing self-efficacy to seek preventive dental care. Findings also support the use of interventions to influence dental beliefs. © 2018 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Barriers Health behavior Oral health Integrative model of behavioral prediction Mexican-American Preventive care

Index Keywords

Modems modem human Indiana statistics and numerical data preventive dentistry Cross-Sectional Studies Humans cross-sectional study psychology migrant male Emigrants and Immigrants female adult patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Mexican Americans Mexican American
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85043483845&doi=10.1186%2fs12903-018-0502-x&partnerID=40&md5=0966f6373aeafffd8c4662d8605d6075
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-018-0502-x
ISSN: 14726831
Original Language: English