Factors Influencing Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults in Rural Areas: Oral Dryness and Oral Health Knowledge and Behavior

Abstract

The oral health of older adults is an important factor affecting their overall health and quality of life. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of oral health of older adults living at home in rural areas and investigate factors affecting oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), especially oral dryness and oral health knowledge and behavior. A descriptive correlational study was conducted. In total, 117 participants were included in the final analysis. Data were collected using questionnaires for oral dryness, oral health knowledge and behavior, and OHRQoL. In addition, oral dryness was measured by mechanical measurements. Oral health knowledge was positively correlated with oral health behavior (r = 0.18, p = 0.029) and OHRQoL (r = 0.25, p = 0.003). In addition, a positive correlation between oral health behavior and OHRQoL (r = 0.24, p = 0.005) was observed. Multiple regression analysis revealed that subjective oral dryness (β = −4.99, p = 0.001) had a significant effect on OHRQoL. To improve OHRQoL in the rural elderly, health providers should pay attention to oral dryness and comprehensively evaluate it. The development of prevention programs and continuous education that can improve oral health knowledge and behavior is also required.

Relationship Between Risk Factors and Periodontal Disease Among Patients in Community Health Centers

“…The high level of food selection behavior was influenced by the high level of knowledge. 7 The results were also influenced by the level of education of respondents which in this study was also high, diploma (5.2%) and higher education (30.2%) (see A significant relationship is found between the knowledge level of periodontal disease and the occurrence of periodontal disease with p-value=0,038. This result shows that there is a relationship between the knowledge level and the occurrence of periodontal disease.…”

Oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices and oral health-related quality of life among stroke inpatients: a cross-sectional study

“…Oral health knowledge was also shown to be poor compared to oral health attitudes and practices in the study by Wong et al (2020) [ 30 ]. This may be attributed to the fact that people are increasingly concerned about their physical health as well as their quality of life, and participants had positive attitudes towards oral health, but their knowledge of oral health was limited due to their education level [ 31 ], monthly household income [ 32 ] and permanent home address [ 33 ]. Members of low-income or rural populations were more likely to have oral health knowledge [ 34 ].…”

Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a care partner assisted intervention to improve oral health of individuals with mild dementia

“…Oral health problems accumulate over the life span, but occur with increased frequency in later life 1 and are associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, functional impairment and mortality. [1][2][3][4] Oral health is integral to quality of life. Individuals with cognitive impairment are at higher risk of poor oral health and significantly worse oral health-related quality of life 5 ; they have more oral plaque, more severe periodontal disease, more caries and fewer teeth than cognitively intact older individuals, 6 7 and are less likely to have regular dental visits.…”

“…Oral health problems accumulate over the life span, but occur with increased frequency in later life1 and are associated with systemic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, functional impairment and mortality 1–4. Oral health is integral to quality of life.…”