Oral health knowledge and oral health related quality of life of older adults

Abstract Many adults in today’s aging cohort are maintaining their teeth into their advanced years. The advantages of fluoridated water, dental insurance, greater awareness of preventive oral healthcare, and more restorative dental services, have made this possible. The demand for oral health care services will be greater and more complex than that of previous generations. Evidence of a link between oral health and overall health underscores the need to better integrate dental care into the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to better understand these issues from the perspective of older adults (N = 26) 65 years of age and older and living independently. Semi structured interviews guided by the behavioral constructs of the Reasoned Action Approach Theory were conducted. Results from the qualitative analysis revealed five themes: 1) Difficulties accessing dental care, 2) Stoic independence, 3) Taking care of your mouth as part of overall health, 4) Relationships affecting oral health related quality of life, and 5) Supporting roles. The findings demonstrate a need to increase oral health literacy in the older adult population with attention to reducing modifiable risk factors. Understanding these behaviors and the current level of oral and overall health knowledge from the perspective of older adults, is vital to helping these individuals’ transition into increasing levels of dependency with a high level of oral health related quality of life. Public health program planning can use this information to help older adults prepare for the transitions that come with healthy aging.

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Impact of Seniors Centers on oral health-related quality of life of older adults

Revista de Saúde Pública ◽

10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001648 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

pp. 7

Author(s):

Fernanda W. Machado Luz ◽

Alexandre Emídio Ribeiro Silva ◽

Ana Paula Perroni ◽

Marília L. Goettems ◽

Noéli Boscato

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Oral Health ◽

Family Income ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Clinical Factors ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of older adults participating or not in Seniors Centers (SC). METHODS: Two independent samples were compared: older adults who participate in SC (n = 124) and older adults who visited Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC) and do not participate in SC (n = 164). The data collected consisted of sociodemographic (sex, age, educational level, marital status, family income) and psychosocial characteristics—Sense of Coherence (SOC), anxiety and depression using HADS, happiness—, and oral clinical evaluation—use and need of dental prosthesis and decayed (D), missing (M), or filled (F) teeth. The resulting OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The Mann-Whitney test was used to assess the associations between the independent variables and the OHIP-14. Poisson regression models were also used in the analyses (α=0.05). RESULTS: In the PHC, of the 270 individuals invited to participate in the study, 164 (60.7%) were interviewed and clinically examined; while in the SC, of the 166 individuals invited to participate in the study, 124 (74.7%) were interviewed and clinically examined. After adjustments for sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical factors, we found that the impact on OHRQoL was 2.8 times higher (95%CI 2.0–4.2) for older adults who did not participate in SC. CONCLUSION: Older adults who participated in SC showed better perception on OHRQoL, independently of sociodemographic, psychosocial and clinical factors.

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IMMIGRATION, RESILIENCE, AND ORAL-HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG CHINESE AMERICAN OLDER ADULTS IN HAWAII

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2188 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S590-S590

Author(s):

Bei Wu ◽

Yaolin Pei ◽

Wei Zhang

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Older Adults ◽

Health Status ◽

Oral Health ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Immigrant Status ◽

Foreign Born ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

Abstract Very few studies have compared oral health status between the US-born and foreign-born immigrant older adults. Using data collected among 430 Chinese older adults age 55+ residing in Hawai’i, we examined the association between immigrant status and oral health related quality of life (OHQoL) and the moderating role of resilience in linking the association. Controlling for some key covariates, our study results show that US-born Chinese immigrant older adults had better OHQoL than their foreign born counterparts. Factors such as higher level of education (graduate degree or higher), better self-reported health status and no significant tooth loss were related to better OHQoL. The association between immigrant status and OHQoL was moderated by resilience. Specially, resilience was positively and significantly associated with OHQoL among U.S.-born older adults but not among the foreign-born ones. Our findings indicate the importance of immigration and resilience in shaping oral health outcomes among older Chinese Americans.

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