Effects of Application of Self - Efficacy Theory and Social Support on Student Leaders for Gingivitis Protection of Students at Grade 5 Primary School, Pratai District, Nakhonratchasima Province

Abstract

This quasi-experimental study which aimed to study the effects of the application of self-efficacy theory
and social support for behavioral modification of student leaders to preventing gingivitis in students at grade 5
of primary school, Pratai district, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The samples were 72 students separated into
two groups: experimental group and comparison group. Each group included 36 students. The experimental
group received the Dental Health Education Program. The implementation consisted of teaching about
gingivitis, group discussion, model observation, learning, demonstration, role playing and health education
board. Moreover, they also received social support from teachers and parents. The data was collected by use
of questionnaire and plaque index measurement before and after the experiment. The data were analyzed by
descriptive statistic for demographic data, the comparative analysis were used by Paired Sample t- test and
Independent Sample t-test. The level of significance was set at 0.05
The results of this study found that after implementation, the experimental group had mean score of
knowledge about gingivitis significantly higher than before the experiment and higher than the comparison
group at p<0.001. Mean score of perceived self- efficacy of the experimental group was not different from
before the intervention and higher than comparison group at p<0.05. The mean score of outcome expectation
of the first group was significantly higher than before the intervention at p<0.01 and higher than the
comparison group at p<0.01. The experimental group also had a mean score of behavior in gingivitis
prevention higher than before the intervention and higher than the comparison group at p<0.01. The mean
score for dental plaque of the experimental group was significantly lower than before the experiment at p<0.01
and lower than the comparison group at p<0.05.