Patient- and population-reported outcomes in public health dentistry: oral health-related quality of life.
At present no process is in place in the United States to comprehensively monitor the national burden of oral diseases from the perspective of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), yet available evidence shows that a substantial percentage of the adult population rates their oral health poorly. This article reviews applications of OHRQoL in dental public health. The authors specifically review its use, contributions, and needed advances in: (1) monitoring the impacts of oral diseases on OHRQoL at the national level, and in public health surveillance at the state and local levels; (2) treatment outcomes research and program evaluation; and (3) clinical practice.
Rozier
R Gary
RG
Department of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7411, USA. gary_rozier@unc.edu
Pahel
Bhavna T
BT
D001294:Attitude to Health; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000523:psychology; D009909:Oral Health; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011636:Public Health Dentistry; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States