Does the Sense of Coherence modifies the relationship of oral clinical conditions and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life?
This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association of demographic and clinical characteristics, Sense of Coherence (SOC), clinical conditions (number of teeth, and use of and need for dental prostheses), and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL); and if the SOC modifies the relationship of clinical conditions and OHRQoL in a sample of elders.



Trained dentists assessed the participants' oral health and conducted interviews (n = 110). Information on sociodemographic conditions (sex; age at time of data collection; educational level; household income), SOC, and OHRQoL were investigated. Clinical data included use of and need for dental prostheses; number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth; and number of teeth (categorized by median). OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Effect modification between SOC and each clinical oral condition on OHRQoL was tested in regression models.



The findings of the present study showed that individuals with high SOC presented better OHRQoL, even after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical conditions.



SOC modifies the effect in the association between OHIP-14 scores and clinical conditions, and could be a protective factor in adverse conditions.
Graduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Fernanda W
FW
Machado
Graduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Ana Paula
AP
Perroni
Graduate Program in Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.|Section of Periodontology, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Gustavo G
GG
Nascimento
Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Epidemiology Division, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil.
Marília L
ML
Goettems
Graduate Program in Dentistry, Prosthodontics Division, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas, Rua Gonçalves Chaves, 457, 2nd floor, Pelotas, RS, 96015-560, Brazil. noeliboscato@gmail.com.
Noéli
N
Boscato
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D060685:Sense of Coherence / Q000941:ethics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires