The Impact of OHQoL among an Underprivileged Elderly Population

Objective: To measure the impact of oral health on quality of life among the elderly in Jerusalem, and to compare homebound and non-homebound people, and the impact on the impetus to seek dental care. Methods: A cross-sectional purposive cluster sample, community–based, one dental clinic, three geriatric day centers, and home visits. A total of 344 elderly underprivileged people were aged 60 and older and 64 were homebound. Of the total, 200 attended one dental clinic (AC) and 144 did not attend a clinic (NAC). The shortened version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) index was employed (validated for Hebrew), as the dependent variable. One dental assistant conducted a structured interview, including universal variables and one dentist examined the dental status. Results: The average OHIP-14 level was 10.43. For the total OHIP-14 count, the OR for the homebound, compared to the non-homebound populations was found to be 2.06 (p=0.028). After multiple logistic regression, the variables which reached independent significance for OHIP-14 level were functional ability and education level. After a second regression, the independent variables which reached significance for dental clinic attendance were family status, dwelling location, care-giver, place of birth, and level of income. Conclusion: Homebound elderly reported increased difficulties in communication ability, eating, relaxation and life satisfaction as related to oral health. Comparison between AC and NAC indicates that OHIP-14 does not predict the impetus to utilize dental services. Social variables such as family status, dwelling location, care-giver, place of birth, and level of income presented enhanced predictors of dental attendance than oral health status.