Evaluation of Oral Health as Component of Quality of Life

"Objectives:" To evaluate and compare the oral health component of quality of life among low and middle socioeconomic class populations in Jerusalem. "Methods:" The Oral Health Impact Profile, 14 question method (OHIP14), measuring dysfunction, discomfort and disability attributed to oral conditions was utilized. This tool included seven domains: functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability and handicap. The low socioeconomic class subjects were parents of children attending a special dental clinic for underprivileged children in Jerusalem. The middle socioeconomic subjects were parents of children attending the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the Hebrew University Hadassah school of Dental Medicine. Subjects were interviewed and asked to answer the OHIP14 questionnaire. Data were analyzed and compared between the two groups (Pearson's Chi Square was utilized, p<0.05). "Results:" Two hundred questionnaires were answered: one hundred from each of the low and middle socioeconomic class groups. 45% of the low class subjects had 6 or more children as compared to 18% of the middle class subjects. Five domains demonstrated higher impact among the low socioeconomic class and were statistically significant: Functional limitation (19% impact among the low class as compared to 5% among the middle class, p=0.009); physical pain (60% as compared to 43%, p=0.005); psychological discomfort (52% as compared to 29%, p=0.0004); psychological disability (46% as compared to 24%, p=0.003); and handicap (23% as compared to 9%, p=0.01). The differences for physical disability and social disability were not of statistical significance. "Conclusion:" The findings are in accordance with published higher OHIP scores among socially and economically disadvantaged groups and emphasize the significant influence of oral health problems on their quality of life. The prominent significant psychological impact needs to be further explored.