ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the impact of self-efficacy on the intention to take preventive actions against infectious diseases, focusing on dental hygiene students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A survey was conducted through a questionnaire distributed to 300 dental hygiene students at the Department of Dental Hygiene, Gangneung Yeongdong College in South Korea. In total, 251 students completed the survey (response rate: 83.6%). The survey data were analyzed via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, path analysis, and structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The analysis showed that self-efficacy positively affected students' intentions to take preventive actions against infectious diseases. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that self-efficacy positively affected dental hygiene students' intentions for preventive actions against infections. Furthermore, it suggested that self-efficacy should be classified into psychological (confidence and judgment) and behavioral (drive and task challenge) categories, and a systematic survey to formalize the concept of self-efficacy should be developed. The results of this study should enable a better understanding of the self-efficacy's impact on the intention to take preventive actions against infectious diseases.