title: ORAL HEALTH QUALITY OF LIFE IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE POPULATION.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral health related quality of life is utilized in health services research to examine trends in oral health and population-based needs assessment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess both the generic and orthodontic specific aspects of the Oral health-related quality of life of a University undergraduate population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among 420 undergraduate students, aged 18-30years old, attending the University of Lagos, Nigeria. The data collection was carried out through oral interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Two Oral health related quality of life instruments were used (1) A generic scale: the Shortened version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and (2) A condition specific scale: the Psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics questionnaire (PIDAQ). Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  With respect to the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) scale, the overall mean score recorded by the students was 10.43+7.85. The physical pain subscale recorded the highest impact with 93.3%, while the least impact was recorded in the handicap subscale, with 29.9%. The Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) scales revealed significant gender differences, with the subscales of 'social impact', 'psychological impact' and 'aesthetic concern' recording low mean subscale values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  . The mean Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) score of the students (10.43 + 7.85) in this study reflects that the oral health status of most of the students did not significantly affect their Oral health-related quality of life. However, the physical pain domain was the most severely affected aspect of their Oral health-related quality of life. The Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics (PIDAQ) scale scores recorded significant gender differences.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/ Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Isiekwe
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/ Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Onigbogi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/ Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Olatosi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dental Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/ Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Sofola
keywords: Nigeria; Oral Health Related Quality of Life; Undergraduate students; Young adults