Assessing The Quality of Life Among Older Adults Having Oral Health Problems

Abstract

Oral health refers to the health of the oral cavity of an individual. Oral health is the most important part of general healthcare. The oral cavity or mouth make a major part of human body and considered to be the beginning of gastrointestinal and respiratory systems. The concept of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHQoL) is focused on the idea that oral health issues can harm a person's self-esteem and self-image, create other health problems, hinder social contact, and cause pain, stress, and sadness. Objective: To assess the Quality of Life (QoL) among older adults having oral health problems. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was carried out from ‘Heaven Old-Age home’, Ferozepur Road, Lahore. Middle age to older adults aged between 45 to 80 years suffering from oral health problems were selected through a non-probability convenient sampling technique, and the sample size of 100 was enrolled. Participants were assessed through a self-constructed questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 21.0. Results: Out of 100 participants, 45 were males while 55 were females while 96 participants were married. Socioeconomically, 72 participants belonged to the middle class in which 67 participants were educated, while 33 were uneducated. Result showed that 39 felt almost inability of chewing, 51 felt uncomfortable eating, 61 were feeling difficulty in biting hard food, and 54 were feeling difficulty while taking a big bite. Moreover, 77 were feeling difficult or restricted smiling, 74 were feeling difficulty in relaxing while 71 were feeling tense, and 83 were feeling irritable. 75 were embarrassed because of oral issues. However, 65 had pain in the mouth while 35 did not. 68 individuals had history of toothache in the previous 12 months, while 32 had not. Conclusion: It was concluded that there is an association between quality of life and oral health. Older adults face problems in chewing and swallowing food, feel pain while chewing or biting the food, and face nutritional deficiencies affecting their quality of life.