Personality traits, oral health beliefs, and periodontal parameters in patients with periodontitis.

OBJECTIVES
Recognising the construct of the Big Five personality factors with health beliefs could help in better evaluation of distinctive factors that may impact a patient's behavioural responses with reference to compliance to primary and secondary preventive measures in periodontitis. The aim of the present study is to explore association among the personality traits, oral health beliefs, and periodontal parameters in patients with periodontitis.


METHODS AND MATERIALS
The present single centred, cross-sectional study consists of 118 systemically healthy participants with Generalised Periodontitis: stage II and III with grade B. NEO-FFI-3 instrument was applied to assess personality traits (Neuroticism (N), Extraversion (E), Openness to experience (O), Agreeableness (A), and Conscientiousness(C). The Oral Health Belief Questionnaire was administered to determine five oral health beliefs namely-: 1) perceived seriousness (PS), 2) benefit of preventative practices (BPP), 3) benefit of plaque control (BPC), 4) efficacy of clinicians (EC), and 5) perceived importance (I).


RESULTS
Spearman correlation analysis revealed that BPP and BPC are inversely correlated with N. EC is positively correlated with the personality traits O, A, and C whereas it is inversely correlated with N. Binomial logistic regression showed that the predictor 'very low' and 'low' levels of C are positive and significant of CAL (clinical attachment loss) ≥4.89mm (b=1.90, 1.55 SE= 0.70, 0.72, p=0.007, 0.033) with odds ratio (OR=6.73(95%CI=1.68-26.95), and 4.75(95%CI= 1.13-19.83).


CONCLUSION
Intensity of an individual's perception of benefits of clinicians in achieving dental health is directly correlated with levels of C. Trends of higher odds ratio for CAL were observed with decreasing level of C.