title: Relationships among sense of coherence, oral health status, nutritional status and care need level of older adults according to path analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sense of coherence (SOC) is a measurement of ability of an individual to cope with psychological stress and remain in good health. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships among SOC score, oral health status, nutritional status and care need level of older adults using path analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 53 older adults (17 men and 36 women) who were attending a day care service (mean age 80.4 ± 6.5 years). SOC was assessed using a 13-item, seven-scale instrument. Oral health status (number of present teeth, denture use) and nutritional status (assessed with Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form) were also evaluated. Path analysis was used to examine the relationship of SOC with other related factors, including care need level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean SOC score was 57.0 ± 13.9. Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form results showed that one participant (1.8%) was malnourished, 26 (49.1%) were at risk of malnutrition and 26 (49.1%) had normal nutritional status. Participants with high SOC scores showed a strong positive attitude, had a relatively large number of teeth, were in good nutritional condition and showed low care need levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results showed that maintaining a high SOC level and good oral health help to reduce care need levels in older adults, and also prevent a worsening of their nutritional condition. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2083-2088.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan.|Division of Community Oral Health Development, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Nanae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dewake
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, Kyushu Women's University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hamasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition Care, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of East Asia, Shimonoseki, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Seinan Jo Gakuin University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, Kyushu Women's University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nima
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, Kyushu Women's University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomoe
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Oral Health Development, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kakuta
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Oral Health Development, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Oral Health Development, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Inho
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimazaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Oral Health Development, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Japan.
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ansai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060685:Sense of Coherence
keywords: care need levels; elderly; number of present teeth; nutritional status; sense of coherence