The Health Belief Model and Pediatric Fissure Sealant Therapy: Identifying Predictors of Parental Behavior-A...

Dental caries in children remains a global health challenge. Fissure sealant therapy (FST) is an effective preventive measure, yet parental acceptance remains low. This study aimed to identify predictors of parental FST behavior for children aged 6-12 years in Bandar Abbas, Iran, using the health belief model (HBM).

The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Bandar Abbas in 2023. A total number of 449 parents to children aged 6-12 years were included. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire to explore demographic information, knowledge questions, and HBM model constructs. Descriptive statistics, correlation matrix, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

The findings showed that the mean scores of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, cues to action, and self-efficacy in the group that performed preventive behavior were significantly higher than the group that did not show the behavior of interest. There was also a significant and positive correlation between the constructs of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, self-efficacy, and cues to action with FST behavior (p < 0.001). In urban areas, with an increase in perceived susceptibility (95% CI (1.26,1.96):OR = 1.56), perceived severity (95% CI (1.03,1.27):OR = 1.17), cues to action (95% CI (1.01,1.34):OR = 1.16), and self-efficacy (95% CI (1.21,1.91):OR = 1.50), the odds of the preventive behavior increase significantly. In rural areas, with an increase in perceived susceptibility (95% CI (1.01,1.28):OR = 1.13) and self-efficacy (95% CI (1.05,1.28):OR = 1.18), the odds of preventive behavior increase significantly.

As the findings showed, the HBM can be an appropriate model to predict the adoption of FST in parents. These findings can improve and advance knowledge about the predictors of FST adoption. These findings can be used to develop effective educational and promotional interventions to increase FST adoption among parents and improve children's oral health.