The importance of oral health to older people's quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to determine whether older people perceive oral health as being important to Quality of Life (QoL) and if so, to identify the most important ways in which their lives are affected. In addition, to identify if subgroups of older people perceive its importance differently.


METHODS
Nationwide qualitative face to face interviews with older people were carried out utilising the Office for National Statistics Omnibus survey in Great Britain.


METHODS
454 adults aged 65 or older took part in this study, part of a random probability sample of adults in the UK.


METHODS
Respondents were interviewed in their homes.


RESULTS
72% (313) perceived their oral health status as important to their QoL through a variety of physical, social and psychological ways. Most frequently its impact on function: eating (29%, 126) and symptoms: comfort (14%, 59) were considered most important. Gender and social class variations were apparent (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Older people perceive oral health as being important to life quality in a variety of different ways. There are significant social class and gender variations which must be taken into consideration when assessing oral health needs of older people.
McGrath
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C
WHO Collaborating Centre for Disability, Culture and Oral Health, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, University College London. C.Mcgrath@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
Bedi
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R
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D006113:United Kingdom