Oral health-related quality of life of schoolchildren: impact of clinical and psychosocial variables.

Abstract

Besides the clinical aspects, the patient's perspective of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may be influenced by a series of individual characteristics. The aim was to investigate the impact of clinical and psychosocial variables on the OHRQoL of Brazilian schoolchildren. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted with children of 8-10 year old attending public (15) and private (5) schools (n = 749). Questionnaires were applied to parents to obtain socioeconomic characteristics, and children were interviewed. Assessment of OHRQoL was performed using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8-10 (CPQ). Oral health examinations included periodontal condition, dental caries, dental trauma, and malocclusion assessment. Unadjusted analyses were undertaken using t-tests and one-way analysis of variance. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the effects of independent variables on CPQ scores. Factors associated with higher CPQ scores in the linear regression analysis after adjustments were family income, presence of decayed teeth, self-reported dental trauma, dental fear, and dental pain. Oral health-related quality of life was influenced by psychosocial and clinical variables.