The effect of oral health on quality of life in an underprivileged homebound and non-homebound elderly population in Jerusalem.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the effect of oral health on quality of life in elderly people in Jerusalem and to compare homebound and nonhomebound people.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, purposive cluster sample.


METHODS
Community-based, one dental clinic, three geriatric day centers, and home visits.


METHODS
Three hundred forty-four underprivileged people aged 60 and older, 64 of whom were homebound.


METHODS
Score on the shortened version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) (validated for Hebrew) was the dependent variable. One dental assistant conducted a structured interview, including universal variables, and one dentist examined dental status.


RESULTS
Average OHIP-14 level was 10.43. For total OHIP-14, the odds ratio comparing the homebound with the nonhomebound population was 2.06 (P=.03). After multiple logistic regression, functional ability and education level reached independent significance for OHIP-14 level were.


CONCLUSIONS
Homebound elderly people reported greater difficulties than nonhomebound people in communication, eating, relaxation, and life satisfaction as related to oral health.
Zini
Avraham
A
Yad Sarah Dental Clinic, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. aviz@hadassah.org.il
Sgan-Cohen
Harold D
HD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000592:standards*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D014505:Urban Population