Jong-Hwa Jang ¹, Yong-Duk Park ², Jee-Hee Kim ³, Eun-Ju Kim ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Dental Hygiene, Hanseo University, Seosan, Chungnam - 356-706, KR
2 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Professional Graduate School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul - 130-701, KR
3 Department of Emergency Medical Services, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, Gangwondo 245-907, KR
4 Department of Nursing Science, Hanseo University, Seosan, Chungnam - 356-706, KR

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of oral health and oral health related Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and the clinical factors influencing Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in Korean elderly. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 256 elderly people (mean age = 78.9±5.36). Participants were recruited when they attended the public health center in Chungnam. Data were collected by means of oral examination and personal interview from September 19 through to October 20, 2012. Oral health related ADL, OHRQoL and dry mouth were measured by a total 24 item. The data were analyzed with t-test, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and stepwise multiple regression using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program. Participants had a mean of 12.0 remaining natural teeth, which was significant with age and perceived oral health. Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth (DMFT) index achieved a mean of 15.8. Powerful predictors of OHRQoL were masticatory difficulty, oral pain, residential type, perceived oral health, frequency of brushing and perceived health in elderly. Based on the findings, OHRQoL has a significantly impact on oral health related ADL. These results suggest that elderly oral health promotion should be developed according to assessment index which measured predictors related to oral health in the elderly.

Keywords

Oral Health, Oral Health Related Activities of Daily Living, Oral Health Related Quality of Life, Visiting Oral Healthcare, Xerostomia.

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