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Impact of oral health status on oral health-related quality of life in Chinese hospitalised geriatric patients

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Abstract

Objectives

To examine the oral health status of Chinese hospitalised geriatric patients and identify its impacts on their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Design

Cross-sectional correlational study.

Setting

Geriatric wards of a regional hospital in Hong Kong.

Subjects

A consecutive sample of Chinese hospitalised geriatric patients (N = 155) aged ≥ 65 years who were communicable.

Measurements

The Brief Oral Health Status Examination (BOHSE) was used to evaluate oral status. The General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) was used to assess OHRQoL.

Results

The oral health status of the Chinese hospitalised geriatric patients was fair, with the more prominent problems being decayed teeth, lack of occluded teeth, coated tongue, excessive tartar, dry and rough red oral tissue and diseased gum. The GOHAI score indicated their compromised OHRQoL. By using hierarchical regression analysis, fewer than eight pairs of occluding teeth (β = −0.33, P < 0.001), unhealthy gum (β = −0.26, P = 0.03) and perceived oral dryness (β = −0.18, P = 0.04) significantly accounted for 17% of variance in the OHRQoL of Chinese hospitalised geriatric patients.

Conclusion

This study suggests that routine screening for dental and gum problems, providing adequate adaptation of denture prosthesis and reducing oral dryness of geriatric patients may be important care to optimise the OHRQoL of Chinese hospitalised geriatric patients. The study needs to be replicated in larger-scale multicentre settings and incorporate the use of more-comprehensive oral assessment indices.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Rm 729, Esther Lee Building, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

    Doris S. F. Yu

  2. The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Rm 723, Esther Lee Building, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

    Diana T. F. Lee & Athena W. L. Hong

  3. Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital, 130 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Tak Yin Lau & Edward M. F. Leung

Authors
  1. Doris S. F. Yu
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  2. Diana T. F. Lee
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  3. Athena W. L. Hong
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  4. Tak Yin Lau
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  5. Edward M. F. Leung
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Correspondence to Doris S. F. Yu.

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Yu, D.S.F., Lee, D.T.F., Hong, A.W.L. et al. Impact of oral health status on oral health-related quality of life in Chinese hospitalised geriatric patients. Qual Life Res 17, 397–405 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9314-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9314-9

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