Assessing the quality of oral health and oral health literacy in the elderly in Tabriz

Abstract

Background: As aging is a period that the aging individuals are exposed to potential threats such as increasing the incidence of chronic diseases, metabolic factors changes in most parts of the body, especially in the mouth and teeth. The changes in long with physical and mental disabilities and in the absence of insufficient health literacy lead to reduction in quality of life. The present study aimed to investigate oral health related quality of life and oral health literacy among aging population in Tabriz. Such information is essential for designing prevention and intervention programs for the elderly to improve oral health outcomes among them. Materials and methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly over 60 years old in Tabriz. Participants were recruited using a multi-stage cluster sampling plan. First, Tabriz was divided into four regions (northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast) based on the socio-economic situation. Then, among 51 comprehensive health service centers, seven comprehensive health service centers were randomly selected and the required sample size was distributed proportionally in four regions based on the population covered by the comprehensive health service center in each region. The study sample (n=316) was selected through random sampling in each selected health centers. The World Health Organization's oral health checklist was used to measure oral health status, periodontal index of community treatment needs (CPITN) was used to measure periodontal disease, as well as oral health literacy (OHL) and oral health related quality of life were used in this study. The data were analyzed using ANOVA test, t-test, simple linear regression and Pearson's correlation tests using SPSS-23 software. Results: The average age of the participants was 67.9 years and 50% were men and 50% were women. edentulous index was 48.7% (in the population 60-70 years 41.1% and ≥71 years and older 69.4%). having 1 to 9 natural teeth was 16.1% (in the population 60-70 years 15.6% and ≥ 71 years old 17.6 percent), having 10 to 19 natural teeth was 19.6 percent (in the population 60-70 years old 2.24 percent and ≥ 71 years old 7.1 percent), and having 22 natural teeth and more 15.5 percentage (19.0% in the population of 60-70 years and 5.9% in the population ≥71 years old). In the evaluation of the CPITN index, 153 edentulous participants were excluded and 163 participants were included in the evaluation of the CPITN index. Out of 163 participants (82 men, 81 women), 11.3% had healthy gums, 16.3% had bleeding gums, and 40.0% had dental plaque. The presence of periodontal pockets of 4-5 mm was 23.8% and the presence of periodontal pockets of 6 mm and more was 8.8%. In total, 19.9% of the participants had partial denture, 54.1% had full upper denture, and 49.7% had full lower denture. There was a significant difference between 60-70-year-olds and 71-year-olds for upper and lower complete dentures. Among the participants aged 60 to 70, 71% had insufficient oral health literacy and 20.8% had sufficient oral health literacy. In the current research, about 80% of the elderly have been visited by a dentist more than 6 months ago, and 14% have never visited a dentist. Also, the results of the regression test indicated that there was a significant relationship between oral and dental evaluation, gum evaluation and having natural teeth with health literacy and related dimensions ( P<0/001 ). Conclusion: In this study, considering the lower percentage of all dimensions of quality of life, health literacy and its dimensions and the CPITN index, the first steps can be taken to plan for the promotion of oral health, oral health literacy and dental extraction and oral health related quality of life among elderly population. It seems that special preventive programs are needed to adapt and meet the oral health needs of the older population