Assessment of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Associated Factors among the Young Adults of Saudi Arabia: A Multicenter Study

Abstract

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is an essential indicator of people’s overall health and health-related quality of life. Poor oral health and OHRQoL among young adults lead to numerous negative consequences and an increased burden on the healthcare system. The present study is aimed at assessing the OHRQoL among the young adults of Saudi Arabia, identifying self-rated oral health, and determining the relationship between sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with the OHRQoL. The present analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1152 health and non-health-related college university students from three randomly selected universities. The OHRQoL was evaluated using the validated Arabic version of the oral health impact profile-14 questionnaire (OHIP-14). Of the population studied, one-fourth of the participants (24.9%) reported poor or fair oral health, and the highest OHIP-14 score was found in the domains of physical pain (4.14), followed by psychological discomfort (4.07). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the poor oral health category was significantly associated with male gender (ref: female: adjusted OR AOR = 1.89 , 95 % CI = 1.23 – 2.94 , p = 0.004 ), daily smokers (ref: nonsmokers: AOR = 3.47 , 95 % CI = 1.97 – 4.82 , p < 0.001 ), chocolate and candies intake more than once a day (ref: never; AOR = 1.54 , 95 % CI = 1.10 – 2.19 , p = 0.034 ), and did not seek periodical dental care (ref: periodic dental care received: AOR = 2.23 , 95 % CI = 1.53 ‐ 2.86 , p = 0.002 ). The present study revealed the factors associated with poor OHRQoL. The concerned authorities should consider the implementation of periodic dental checkups for university students, especially for the high-risk group. Furthermore, it is recommended to have regular health education programs that will help to change the student’s lifestyle and poor oral health behaviors.

Assessment of oral health literacy and oral health‐related quality of life in Saudi university students: A cross‐sectional study

“…The outcomes of the present study showed that the highest OHIP score was reported in physical pain, followed by the domains of psychological disability, physical disability, physiological discomfort, handicap, social disability and functional limitation, etc. Similar to our results, a study conducted in Jazan city, Saudi Arabia, also reported that physical pain and psychological discomfort domains had higher OHIP scores than the others 23 . In addition, a Chinese study stated that the physical pain dimension and the psychological pain dimension had the highest average scores, whereas the psychological discomfort dimension was the lowest average score.…”

“…Similar to our results, a study conducted in Jazan city, Saudi Arabia, also reported that physical pain and psychological discomfort domains had higher OHIP scores than the others. 23 In addition, a Chinese study stated that the physical pain dimension and the psychological pain dimension had the highest average whereas the psychological discomfort dimension was the lowest average score. Remarkably, a study by Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu et al on a population of young adults in Saudi Arabia presented that physical pain had the highest OHIP score, followed by psychological discomfort.…”

Factors associated with oral health service utilization among young people in southern China

“…The sugar intake among Chinese children and adolescents has been steadily increasing. In our study, 62.8% of college students consume desserts and sweets every day, and 50.6% of college students consume sugary drinks daily, which is significantly higher than the results from a study in Saudi Arabia [ 50 ] (34.4% of participants consume chocolates and candies daily, and 34.8% consume carbonated drinks daily).Our sugar consumption continues to grow, ranking third in the world after India and the EU [ 51 ]. Commercial interests group induce or kidnap population to build unhealthy diet cultures and behaviors in order to expand their own profits.…”

The Chinese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire among college students: factor structure and measurement invariance across genders

“…Among the questionnaires completed by the students, as shown in Table 2 , the physical pain dimension and the psychological pain dimension had the highest average scores, and the psychological discomfort dimension was the lowest average score. Interestingly, a study by Ashokkumar Thirunavukkarasu et al on a population of young adults in Saudi Arabia showed that physical pain had the highest OHIP score, followed by psychological discomfort [ 50 ]. Besides, an investigation of OHRQoL in 18-year-olds conducted in Hong Kong, China, found that psychological discomfort and mental disability have significant effects [ 51 ].…”