title: Caries prevalence in patients with cerebral palsy and the burden of caring for them.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between caries prevalence in individuals with cerebral palsy (CPG) and the burden on their caregivers (CGCP) compared to nondisabled individuals (CG) and their caregivers (CGCG). In a cross-sectional assessment, 65 subjects with cerebral palsy were evaluated for their caries prevalence. The CGCP answered the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS) questionnaire. Using the same methodology, 58 CG were evaluated and CGCG replied to the questionnaire. The CGCP had statistically significant higher scores on general strain, isolation, disappointment, environment, and total scores using the CBS questionnaire. The CPG had significantly higher values using the Decayed, Missed and Filled (DMF) index than the CG. Values for the CBS domains in general strain and disappointment and DMF index were found to have a statistically significant correlation. Taking care of an individual with CP is a potential source of continual burden for caregivers, and there is a positive correlation between caries prevalence in individuals with CP and the burden on their caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Dentistry, Persons with Disabilities Division, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, Brazil. drsantosmt@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biancardi
authors.forename: Renata Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Guare
authors.forename: Jose R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jardim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D015995:Prevalence; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult