Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior

Abstract Introduction Understanding the predictors of oral health behaviors in older adults helps to design effective interventions. This will improve their oral health and overall well-being. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of oral health-related behaviors in Iranian elderly bas...

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Main Authors: Saeid Bashirian, Sahar Khoshravesh, Erfan Ayubi, Mahrokh Amiri, Akram Karimi-Shahanjarini, Majid Barati, Parshang Faghih Solaymani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06180-2
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author Saeid Bashirian
Sahar Khoshravesh
Erfan Ayubi
Mahrokh Amiri
Akram Karimi-Shahanjarini
Majid Barati
Parshang Faghih Solaymani
author_facet Saeid Bashirian
Sahar Khoshravesh
Erfan Ayubi
Mahrokh Amiri
Akram Karimi-Shahanjarini
Majid Barati
Parshang Faghih Solaymani
author_sort Saeid Bashirian
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Understanding the predictors of oral health behaviors in older adults helps to design effective interventions. This will improve their oral health and overall well-being. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of oral health-related behaviors in Iranian elderly based on the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB). Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Sanandaj City, western Iran, in 2024. In this research, 360 elderly people from retirement centers in Sanandaj City were surveyed using a multi-stage random sampling method. The data collection tools were the demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB) questionnaires, the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ), and clinical oral and dental examination. SPSS software version 26 was used for data analysis. The significance level was considered to be p < 0.05. Results A mean age of 63.82 (± 5.15) years was estimated for the 360 ​​elderly. The linear regression results showed that all ETPB constructs predicted oral health behaviors in the studied elderly. This model could explain 40% of the variance in the oral health behaviors of the elderly. The strongest predictor of oral health behaviors was the behavioral intention construct (β = 0.404, p < 0.001. The Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) crown index showed a significant positive correlation with oral health behaviors (r = 0.278, p < 0.001) and OHL (r = 0.230, p < 0.001) as well as a significant negative correlation with attitude (r = -0.257, p < 0.001). Conclusion The ETPB effectively identifies and predicts oral health behaviors in the elderly, with behavioral intention emerging as the strongest predictor. The DMFT-crown index correlated positively with oral health behaviors and oral health literacy, while attitude showed a significant negative association. Based on these results, interventions should prioritize strengthening behavioral intention, improving attitudes, and enhancing oral health literacy through theory-based educational programs to promote sustainable health practices in this population.
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spelling doaj-art-ea02e5b7468344ad9cf2d2a65a07f4d02025-08-20T03:46:20ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-07-0125111010.1186/s12903-025-06180-2Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behaviorSaeid Bashirian0Sahar Khoshravesh1Erfan Ayubi2Mahrokh Amiri3Akram Karimi-Shahanjarini4Majid Barati5Parshang Faghih Solaymani6Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesChronic Diseases (Home Care) Research Center, Institute of Cancer, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Community Oral Health, School of Dentistry, Dental Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Institute of Health Sciences and Technologies, Hamadan University of Medical SciencesAbstract Introduction Understanding the predictors of oral health behaviors in older adults helps to design effective interventions. This will improve their oral health and overall well-being. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of oral health-related behaviors in Iranian elderly based on the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB). Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in Sanandaj City, western Iran, in 2024. In this research, 360 elderly people from retirement centers in Sanandaj City were surveyed using a multi-stage random sampling method. The data collection tools were the demographic characteristics questionnaire, the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior (ETPB) questionnaires, the Oral Health Literacy Adult Questionnaire (OHL-AQ), and clinical oral and dental examination. SPSS software version 26 was used for data analysis. The significance level was considered to be p < 0.05. Results A mean age of 63.82 (± 5.15) years was estimated for the 360 ​​elderly. The linear regression results showed that all ETPB constructs predicted oral health behaviors in the studied elderly. This model could explain 40% of the variance in the oral health behaviors of the elderly. The strongest predictor of oral health behaviors was the behavioral intention construct (β = 0.404, p < 0.001. The Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) crown index showed a significant positive correlation with oral health behaviors (r = 0.278, p < 0.001) and OHL (r = 0.230, p < 0.001) as well as a significant negative correlation with attitude (r = -0.257, p < 0.001). Conclusion The ETPB effectively identifies and predicts oral health behaviors in the elderly, with behavioral intention emerging as the strongest predictor. The DMFT-crown index correlated positively with oral health behaviors and oral health literacy, while attitude showed a significant negative association. Based on these results, interventions should prioritize strengthening behavioral intention, improving attitudes, and enhancing oral health literacy through theory-based educational programs to promote sustainable health practices in this population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06180-2Oral healthAgedTheory of Planned BehaviorIran
spellingShingle Saeid Bashirian
Sahar Khoshravesh
Erfan Ayubi
Mahrokh Amiri
Akram Karimi-Shahanjarini
Majid Barati
Parshang Faghih Solaymani
Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior
BMC Oral Health
Oral health
Aged
Theory of Planned Behavior
Iran
title Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior
title_full Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior
title_fullStr Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior
title_full_unstemmed Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior
title_short Predicting the oral health-related behaviors of the Iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior
title_sort predicting the oral health related behaviors of the iranian elderly based on the extended theory of planned behavior
topic Oral health
Aged
Theory of Planned Behavior
Iran
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06180-2
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