title: Oral health-related quality of life among parents and teachers of disabled schoolchildren in Kuwait.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the oral health-related quality of life between the parents and the teachers of disabled schoolchildren in Kuwait.
  
  
  METHODS
  The three category response version of the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) (12 questions, always, sometimes, never) was used in the questionnaires in Kuwait. Three hundred and eight (308) parents and 112 teachers were enrolled in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the parents was 45 ± 9.9 years and of the teachers 38 ± 8.4 years. The mean GOHAI was 27.2 ± 3.5 among the parents and 27.8 ± 3.3 among the teachers (p = 0.091). GOHAI was higher in the older age groups (p = 0.002) and among the parents with a university education (p < 0.001). GOHAI was also higher with increasing toothbrushing frequency among the parents (p = 0.047) and the teachers (p = 0.003). Altogether, 203 (66%) of the parents and 85 (76%) of the teachers were always able to swallow comfortably; 123 (40%) of the parents and 41 (37%) of the teachers were able to eat without discomfort. Overall, 132 (43%) of the parents and 41 (37%) of the teachers were always pleased and happy with the looks of their teeth and gums, or dentures. The Cronbach's alpha (0.83) indicated a high degree of internal consistency between different GOHAI items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There seemed to be no difference in the impact of oral health on the quality of life between the parents and the teachers of disabled schoolchildren. Oral health had a relatively weak impact on the quality of life of these adults.
authors.affiliation: National School Oral Health Program, Ministry of Health, Salmiya, Kuwait. mshyama@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Maddi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shyama
authors.forename: Sisko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honkala
authors.forename: Sabiha A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Mutawa
authors.forename: Eino
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Honkala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data