title: Oral health-related quality of life improves in employees with disabilities following a workplace dental intervention.
abstract: This pilot study evaluated a dental intervention for employees with disabilities by measuring changes in self-rated oral health, dental behaviours and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQol). Consenting employees with disabilities (≥18years) at two worksites in South Australia underwent dental examinations at baseline, three and six months. Referrals were arranged as needed to public dental clinics. At one and two months a dental hygienist provided group oral health education to the employees. Employees' demographics, self-rated oral health, dental behaviours and OHRQol were collected via face-to-face interviews. Of the 39 referred employees, 28 (72%) of them completed the recommended treatment. Self-rated oral health improved and there were significant reductions in the prevalence of oral health impact on quality of life (percentage of employees reporting 1+ items fairly/very often) from 27% to 11% (McNemar's test, p<0.05); the extent of impact (mean number of items reported fairly/very often) from 1.3 to 0.6 and the severity of impact (mean of summed OHIP item scores) from 3.6 to 1.8 (paired t-tests, p<0.01). As this pilot study indicates that enabling urgent referral for treatment and regular oral health education can improve OHRQol and self-rated oral health among employees with disabilities, a larger study with a control group should be undertaken.
authors: School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Queensland, 4006, Australia; Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), The University of Adelaide, ARCPOH Level 1, 122 Frome Street, 5005, Australia. Electronic address: a.pradhan@uq.edu.au.
authors: Archana
authors: A
authors: Pradhan
authors: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), The University of Adelaide, ARCPOH Level 1, 122 Frome Street, 5005, Australia. Electronic address: dominic.keuskamp@adelaide.edu.au.
authors: Dominic
authors: D
authors: Keuskamp
authors: Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), The University of Adelaide, ARCPOH Level 1, 122 Frome Street, 5005, Australia. Electronic address: david.brennan@adelaide.edu.au.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D009909:Oral Health / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013021:South Australia; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dental behaviour; Dental intervention; Disability; Oral health-related quality of life