IADR Abstract Archives
TILDA Oral Health Assessment Uptake and Reasons for Participant Refusal
Objectives: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) is an ongoing project to transform our understanding of older people through the collection of comprehensive economic, health and social data. A nationally representative sample of adults over 50 years was generated incorporating stratification, clustering and multistage selection. Wave 3 of TILDA (2014-5) included an oral health assessment based on WHO criteria and comparable to the previous national adult survey in Ireland. The objective of the study was to assess the oral health status and treatment needs of older adults, and to explore the relationships between oral health and general health.
Methods: Methods: As part of the overall health assessment, participants were invited to undergo examination by a trained dentist. An opportunistic sample was used, since some participants could not be invited due to logistic constraints. Not all participants invited for oral examination chose to accept. After an initial trial period the response rate for oral health assessment was calculated and the reason for refusal was recorded.
Results: Results: Of the TILDA Wave 3 sample (n=6887) 4256 participants attended for health centre assessment. A total of 2539 participants underwent the oral health assessment, which was a response rate of 81.6% from those invited. A further analysis of respondent/refuser characteristics is ongoing. The most common reason for refusal was ‘not interested’ (n=199), followed by time constraints (n=85) and fear of dentists (n=75). Less frequently, participants said they felt tired or unwell (n=25), or preferred to see their own dentist only (n=24).
Conclusions: Conclusions: TILDA presents an opportunity to investigate the oral health of older Irish adults in the context of their general health and lifestyle. Most participants welcomed the addition of an oral health assessment to the study. Response rate might be improved by providing more information about the need for oral health data to participants.
Methods: Methods: As part of the overall health assessment, participants were invited to undergo examination by a trained dentist. An opportunistic sample was used, since some participants could not be invited due to logistic constraints. Not all participants invited for oral examination chose to accept. After an initial trial period the response rate for oral health assessment was calculated and the reason for refusal was recorded.
Results: Results: Of the TILDA Wave 3 sample (n=6887) 4256 participants attended for health centre assessment. A total of 2539 participants underwent the oral health assessment, which was a response rate of 81.6% from those invited. A further analysis of respondent/refuser characteristics is ongoing. The most common reason for refusal was ‘not interested’ (n=199), followed by time constraints (n=85) and fear of dentists (n=75). Less frequently, participants said they felt tired or unwell (n=25), or preferred to see their own dentist only (n=24).
Conclusions: Conclusions: TILDA presents an opportunity to investigate the oral health of older Irish adults in the context of their general health and lifestyle. Most participants welcomed the addition of an oral health assessment to the study. Response rate might be improved by providing more information about the need for oral health data to participants.