Functional and social impacts in people with dry mouth

Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants with self-reported oral dryness. Interviews were recorded and transcribed in full.Framework analysis was used to explore impacts on their everyday life.

Results: Functional and social impacts of dry mouth could be seen in six categories: functional, psychological and participation impacts along with coping, illness beliefs and the degree of impact. These categories had complex interactions. Functional impacts ranged from dietary limitations (eating, swallowing dry foods), recreation (singing, exercise, walking etc.) to disturbed sleep at night and increased visits to the toilet such that daily functions were comprised (e.g. reduced exercised, sexual performance etc). Psychological impacts included frustration, anger and embarrassment. Restricted participation affected activities such as sport, meetings at work, social gatherings etc. Social support from friends, family and health services varied from moral support to total neglect and ignorance. Participants reported many coping strategies which enabled them to avoid or participate in social activities, e.g. making excuses, alternating water with drinks, choosing moist food etc and identified themselves as being socially different, in part due to these strategies (constant drinking of water, using sprays, gels and diet modifications etc).The degree of impact varied by its severity, frequency and duration. In the most severe cases, dry mouth had constant and repeated major effects on daily life over many years.

Conclusions: Dry mouth impacts on numerous aspects of daily life in a complex fashion.

*Funded by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.