Physical Pain Domains Research Articles

Impact of tooth wear on quality of life of patients attending a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

Tooth wear is listed as one of the main oral health problems which affects a major part of the population. It may affect the physical, mental and social well-being of an individual, thereby impacting on the general health and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the impact of tooth wear on quality of life of patients attending a tertiary hospital in Lagos. Methods: 239 consecutive subjects with tooth wear who attended the Dental Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja, Lagos within a period of 3months were recruited. Informed consent was obtained, and an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemography, diet history and tooth brushing techniques. All subjects also completed the oral health impact profile 14 (OHI-14) questionnaire. Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index was used to assess tooth wear. The association between tooth wear and OHI-14 was determined. Results: The age range was 18years to 80years with a mean of 56.21±14.3 years. A higher proportion of tooth wear was seen in males (52.3%). The most common BEWE index score was medium, 9-13 (130; 54.4%), followed by high, 14 and above (59; 24.7%) and the least was low, 3-8 (50; 20.9%). The physical pain domain had the highest mean score of 3.11±24 while social disability domain had the least which was 0.8±1.2 Conclusion: The most affected domain was physical pain followed by psychological discomfort and physical disability while the least affected domain was social disability.

Oral health-related quality of life and levels of anxiety and depression in individuals with oral potentially malignant disorders

Objectives: To evaluate oral health-related quality of life and possible correlations with anxiety and depression in patients with oral potentially malignant disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a reference center for oral lesions in the interior of the state of Bahia from February 2022 to January 2023, using the questionnaires Oral Health Impact Profile-14, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results: There was a slight change in the oral health-related quality of life of individuals in the sample, with a prevalence of responses to psychological discomfort, psychological incapacity, and physical pain domains. In addition, 39.7% and 17.9% of patients were identified as likely having generalized anxiety and depressive symptoms, respectively. When relating the levels of anxiety and depression with the perception of oral health-related quality of life, a positive correlation was found (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Patients with oral potentially malignant disorders showed a slight change in oral health-related quality of life. However, there was a positive correlation between the perception of oral health-related quality of life and levels of anxiety and depression.

Is tooth loss associated with oral health-related quality of life among young men? Findings from southern Brazil.

To determine the association between tooth loss and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among young men from southern Brazil. Cross-sectional study of 518 young men aged 18-19 years enlisted for mandatory military service in the Brazilian Army in two cities of southern Brazil in 2019-2021. Participants were clinically examined regarding gingivitis, dental caries experience (caries lesions, missing and filled surfaces), and malocclusion. A questionnaire collected socioeconomic information and the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14). The outcome was OHRQoL, modeled as a discrete variable. The main explanatory variable was tooth loss due to caries (0 or ≥1). Negative binomial regression analysis was used; rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Tooth loss prevalence was 22.2%. Associations were detected between tooth loss and OHRQoL in the physical pain and handicap domains. Individuals with at least one missing tooth had 17% higher OHIP-14 scores in the physical pain domain (adjusted RR=1.17; 95%CI=1.01, 1.35) and 49% higher in the handicap domain (adjusted RR=1.49; 95%CI=1.03, 2.15) than those with no tooth loss. Tooth loss was negatively associated with OHRQoL among 18-19-year-old Brazilian Army conscripts, and this association was related to physical pain and handicap domains.

The Relationship between Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Body Mass Index in an Older Population from Southern Italy: The Salus in Apulia Study.

The assessment of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) evaluated the impact of an individual's oral health on the patient's physical and psychosocial status. We evaluated the association between subjective OHRQoL, measured with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire, and unfavorable body mass index (BMI) (i.e., too high or too low) in a large population-based study on older adults from Southern Italy. Moreover, we assessed which of the seven OHIP-14 domains was the most strongly associated with an unfavorable BMI. We used data on a subpopulation of the Salus in Apulia Study, including 216 older adults. BMI < 18.4 kg/m2 and >30 kg/m2 were classified as unfavorable, while values between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2 were classified as ideal. A higher OHIP-14 total score increased the risk of an unfavorable BMI (odds ratio (OR): 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.15). In the model adjusted for age, sex, education, hypertension, carbohydrate consumption, and alcohol consumption, this finding was confirmed with a higher OHIP-14 total score increasing the risk of an unfavorable BMI (OR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.22), and higher age linked to a decreased risk of an unfavorable BMI (OR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.82-0.97). In a random forest regression model, the most important predictive domains/sub-scales of OHIP-14 in the mean decrease in the Gini coefficient for unfavorable BMI were, in order of decreasing importance, physical pain, functional limitation, psychological discomfort, physical disability, social disability, psychological disability, and handicap. In older age, negative OHRQoL, particularly linked to the physical pain domain, increased the risk of being underweight or overweight and obesity.

Chewing Ability and the Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Relationship Between Tooth Wear and Oral Health.

It is important to understand how a very common prevalent condition of tooth wear (TW) impacts a person's day-to-day oral health. An emerging concept of measuring the parameter of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), which evidently impacts the daily living of a person, makes it practical to examine the correlation between TW and OHRQoL. For measuring the OHRQoL, we can apply various methods, and the most effective is the use of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) questionnaire. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to assess the correlation between TW and the OHRQoL among adult patients attending a dental college and hospital. A cross-sectional research was performed on patients who visited the outpatient department of Teerthanker Mahaveer Dental College and Research Centre, Moradabad, India. Initially, the sociodemographic details of patients, including their oral hygiene and dietary habits, were recorded. This step was followed by the assessment of TW using the Smith and Knight TW index. Then, the translated and validated version of the OHIP questionnaire was filled up, in which the patients were asked to rate each question on a Likert scale, with five points ranging from 0 to 4, where 0 = never, 1 = hardly ever, 2 = occasionally, 3 = fairly often, and 4 = very often. Based on a clinical examination on 630 subjects and the OHIP questionnaire responses from the participants, a significantly remarkable association (p ≤ 0.05) was found using a chi-square test between TW and the OHRQoL. In particular, TW was linked to other sociodemographic data and various lifestyle, dietary, and drinking habits. Along with the OHRQoL, TW also showed a positive correlation with gender. Using the chi-square test, a statistically significant association between age and TW was observed, with p-value = 0.004. Meanwhile, the place of residence did not show any association with TW. Educational qualifications of patients, visits to dental clinics, and reasons for dental visits showed very significant association with TW. Oral hygiene aids, materials used, frequency of brushing, and brushing technique did not have any association with TW as per the results obtained. A highly significant association was found between consumption of fruit drinks, citric drinks, and beverages and TW in the adult patients. Among all the domains of the OHIP questionnaire, the physical pain domain was the most affected, followed by the physical disability domain. We conclude that TW has a direct association and positive correlation with the OHRQoL. As TW was increasing, so were the OHIP values, which indicated a lesser OHRQoL. The study also presents information on how to maintain a regular and healthy dietary lifestyle and oral hygiene to combat the impacts of TW.

Genetic polymorphisms are involved in oral health-related quality of life in skeletal class III patients submitted to orthognathic surgery.

This study aimed to evaluate whether sex and genetic polymorphisms impact the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) preoperatively and the difference between preoperative and postoperative OHRQoL in skeletal Class III patients submitted to orthognathic surgery. This longitudinal study consisted of ninety-nine patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion who required orthognathic surgery. The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) is a questionnaire used to assess the OHRQoL with a 5-point Likert-type scale, covering seven domains related to physical and psychosocial factors. The questionnaire was applied in the preoperative and postoperative periods, and the difference scores were calculated to assess the OHRQoL after orthognathic surgery. The DNA was extracted from oral mucosa cells to evaluate genetic polymorphisms in ANKK1, DRD2, ESR1, and ESR2 through real-time PCR. There was an improvement in all OHRQoL domains following orthognathic surgery (p < 0.05). In the preoperative evaluation, women presented worse OHRQoL (p < 0.05) than men. There was no statistical difference between sex and the OHRQoL after surgery (p > 0.05). When evaluating the polymorphisms and preoperative OHIP-14 scores, CT genotype patients for rs1800497 (ANKK1) had a worse perception of the physical pain domain than CC genotype (p = 0.026), and CC genotype patients for rs1256049 (ESR2) had a worse perception of the functional limitation domain than CT genotype (p = 0.002). In the analysis between polymorphisms and postoperative and preoperative difference scores, CT genotype patients for rs1256049 (ESR2) had a greater improvement in the perception of the physical pain domain than the CC genotype (p = 0.031). In rs6275 and rs6276 (DRD2), patients with the CC genotype worsened the perception of the functional limitation domain than the TT genotype (p = 0.045), and AA genotype patients worsened the perception of the functional limitation domain than GG genotype (p = 0.048) after surgery, respectively. In addition, patients with the CT genotype for rs1800497 (ANKK1) had a greater improvement of OHRQoL perception in the total scale than the TT genotype (p = 0.018), and CT genotype patients had a greater improvement in the perception of function limitation domain than TT genotype (p = 0.017). Women have a worse perception of OHRQoL in the preoperative period of orthognathic surgery. Furthermore, polymorphisms in the ANKK1, DRD2, and ESR2 genes could be involved with OHRQoL in the preoperative period and following orthognathic surgery. The knowledge of the genetic background concerning OHRQoL in skeletal class III patients would aid in clinical practice to screen for associated genetic factors and prevent OHRQoL deterioration, especially after orthognathic surgery, considering that patients' genetic profiles would soon be available.

Impact of periodontitis on systemic anxiety and oral health quality of life

Aim : The aim of the present study was to measure dental anxiety levels and oral health-related qualities of life (OHRQoL) in patients with periodontitis compared to healthy controls and to analyze their association with various demographic, clinical and periodontal parameters. Methods : Fifty-five patients with periodontitis and 56 healthy controls were enrolled. Collected data included demographics, smoking habits, numerical rating scale (NRS), Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), DMFT index (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth), Plaque Index (PI), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and radiographic bone loss. Results : Periodontitis patients exhibited statistically significant higher scores in the total DAS and in almost of single DAS domains. Compared to the control group, periodontitis patients exhibited worse OHIP-14 global as well as in all individual OHIP-14 domains scores. Among both periodontitis and control patients, the physical pain domain was where the highest impact was recorded, while the lowest impact was recorded in the functional limitation domain. Conclusion : Periodontitis patients were positively associated with higher levels of dental anxiety and worse OHRQoL. Self-perception of dental anxiety and OHRQoL should be regarded as an integral element in routine diagnostic work-up process of periodontal diseases. This study showed that for a nationally representative sample of the southern Italian population population, periodontal disease was significantly associated with the domains of OHRQoL.

Analysis of the psychopathological profile, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of oral lichen planus patients treated with photobiomodulation.

To evaluate the effect of PBM on the psychological profile and quality of life of patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) in comparison to corticoid and to investigate the cost-effectiveness of both treatments. Patients were randomized into two groups: Control (clobetasol propionate 0.05%) and Photobiomodulation (660nm, 100mW, 177J/cm2, 5s, 0.5J) twice a week for 30days. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and OHIP-14 were used in different treatment time points and at follow-up. The cost-effectiveness was calculated using the improvement in OHIP-14 after treatment. OLP patients showed detected levels of anxiety, depression, and poor quality of life at baseline. No improvement in anxiety and depression was noticed after treatments. However, PBM and corticoid significantly improved the quality of life of OLP patients, considering the OHIP-14-T and the physical pain domain. The treatment with corticoid was more cost-effective than PBM. Psychological distress was not improved after both treatments and PBM is as effective as corticoids in promoting a better quality of life in OLP patients, despite its higher cost. This study highlights the need for additional therapeutic interventions in OLP patients, to early recognize and to manage the alterations in their psychological profile. Moreover, PBM is an effective therapy in OLP patient's quality of live and although it was a more expensive, the advantage of being a minimally invasive therapy associated with no side effects must be considered in clinical practice, especially in those patients with refractory disease. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; the registration number is NCT03320460, registered in 17/10/2017.

Age-related differences in diagnostic categories, psychological states and oral health-related quality of life of adult temporomandibular disorder patients.

The peak prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) may occur in middle age. This study determined the proportion of matured adults seeking TMD treatment and compared their diagnostic, psychological and oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) profiles to younger patients. Adult subjects were recruited from a tertiary TMD centre and assigned to three age groups, namely 18-44years (young adults [YA]), 45-64 (middle-aged adults [MA]) and ≥65 (old adults [OA]). TMD diagnoses were established with the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs and categorised as pain-related (PT), intra-articular (IT) and combined (CT) TMDs. Psychological states and OHRQoL were assessed with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Oral Health Impact Profile-TMDs (OHIP-TMDs). Demographic, DASS-21, and OHIP-TMDs data were analysed using chi-square test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson's correlation (P<.05). Middle-aged (19.7%; 136/692) and old (4.0%; 28/692) adults comprised about a quarter of the TMD patients. Although gender distribution was comparable, significant differences in TMD categories were observed (P<.001). Pain-related TMDs were more prevalent in the MA/OA groups while intra-articular TMDs were more frequent in the YA group. No significant difference in DASS-21 and total OHIP scores was noted among three groups. However, the MA and OA groups had significantly lower OHRQoL in the physical pain domain. Correlations between DASS-21 and OHIP-TMDs scores varied with age and ranged from rs =0.47-0.92. Matured patients constituted a quarter of TMD cohort and presented higher frequencies of painful TMDs. They have similar psychological profiles to younger patients but experienced lower OHRQoL in physical pain domain.

Attachment-retained removable prostheses: Patient satisfaction and quality of life assessment

Statement of problemStudies on the impact of incorporating attachments in removable prostheses on patient-based outcomes are scarce. PurposeThe purpose of this clinical study was to investigate oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) and patient satisfaction in partially edentulous participants before and after rehabilitation with mandibular attachment-retained removable prostheses as compared with conventional removable prostheses. Material and methodsThis crossover study included 74 participants (aged 36 to 57). Initially, 56 received conventional clasp-retained removable dental prostheses (RDPs), and 18 received conventional overdentures (ODs) based on their mandibular partially edentulous state. Two months later, of the 56 RDP participants, 24 had received extracoronal attachment-retained RDPs, 17 received telescope-retained RDPs, and 15 received bar-attachment retained RDPs. The 18 OD participants received ball attachment–retained ODs. Assessments included Oral Health Impact Profile-short version-14 for OHRQoL and a visual analog scale (VAS) for patient satisfaction. Assessments were done before treatment and 2 months after wearing each prosthesis with a 1-month washout period. Statistical analysis included the Friedman then the Wilcoxon signed rank test for Oral Health Impact Profile-short version-14 scores and repeated measures ANOVA then the Bonferroni or paired t test for VAS scores (α=.05). ResultsThere were no dropouts. Rehabilitation, irrespective of prosthesis type, significantly improved OHRQoL in all domains and significantly increased overall patient satisfaction (P<.05). When compared with the conventional prostheses, attachment-retained prostheses significantly improved functional limitation, psychological discomfort, and physical limitation domains in all groups (P<.05), as well as the physical pain domain in the OD group (P=.041). General satisfaction, stability, comfort, ability to speak, and ability to masticate significantly increased (P<.05) with attachment-retained prostheses. Conventional prostheses were significantly easier to clean (P<.05) in all groups, except for the telescope-attachment group. ConclusionsBoth conventional and attachment-retained prostheses significantly increased patient satisfaction and improved OHRQoL in all domains as compared with before treatment. However, incorporation of attachments further improved functional limitation, psychological discomfort, and physical limitation domains in all groups, as well as the physical pain domain in the OD group. Participants were more satisfied with their attachment-retained prostheses in most aspects.

Removable prostheses improve OHRQL and satisfaction of elderly people with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects joint tissues and causes severe physical and functional impairments on quality of life due to muscular and articular pain. The involvement of temporomandibular joint in RA interferes with mouth opening and masticatory process. However, no studies addressed the impact of RA on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and satisfaction with prostheses use in elderly people. Aim: This study assessed the impact of oral rehabilitation with conventional dentures on the OHRQoL and prostheses satisfaction in elderly patients with RA, associated or not with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Methods: Forty-five elderly were enrolled and divided into three groups: (1) RA and TMD (n=15, experimental), (2) RA without TMD (n=15, experimental), and (3) without RA and without TMD (n=15, control). The OHRQoL and the prostheses satisfaction were evaluated before and after new oral rehabilitation with partial and/or complete dentures. The OHRQoL and prosthesis satisfaction were assessed and verified through OHIP-14 questionnaire and visual analogue scale, respectively. Results: TMD group exhibited the worst mean values (P&lt;0.05) for all OHIP-14 domains before insertion of new dentures. Group 2 showed worst means (P&lt;0.05) compared to controls for functional limitation and physical pain domains of the OHIP-14, but not in the general score. Patients showed better outcomes of satisfaction with prostheses use only after the new rehabilitation. Conclusion: The use of new and well-fitted dentures improves all domains of OHRQoL in patients with RA and TMD and all groups were satisfied with prostheses use after the new rehabilitation with conventional dentures.

Influence of Age and Time Since Edentulism on Masticatory Function and Quality of Life in Implant-Retained Mandibular Overdenture Wearers: 1-year Results from a Paired Clinical Study.

To investigate the influence of age and time since edentulism on masticatory function and quality of life related to oral health (OHRQoL) in totally edentulous patients after implant-retained mandibular overdenture (IMO) loading. The sample consisted of 33 patients categorized in two age groups (≤ 65 and > 65 years, respectively), and two time since edentulism groups (< 25 and ≥ 25 years). The masticatory function was evaluated through the masticatory performance and swallowing threshold tests before IMO loading, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after IMO loading. The OHRQoL was evaluated by applying the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-EDENT) and Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) questionnaires, before loading and after 3, 6, and 12 months. Data were subjected to the Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired samples. The masticatory performance and swallowing threshold were not influenced by the age nor by time since edentulism, except 6 months after IMO loading when patients ≤ 65 years of age performed the swallowing threshold test in a significantly shorter time with a reduced number of masticatory cycles (P < .05). The masticatory performance and swallowing threshold outcomes showed a gradual improvement up to 12 months, irrespective of the patient categorization. The GOHAI questionnaire scores showed that the OHRQoL was influenced by age in complete denture wearers with a difference between groups in the psychosocial and global domains. The time since edentulism was not affected by the GOHAI scores of complete denture wearers (P < .05). The OHIP-EDENT questionnaire only indicated significant differences as a function of age or time since edentulism between complete denture wearers. Age was associated with significant differences in the physical pain domain outcome, while time since edentulism did not affect only the psychologic discomfort, psychologic inability, and handicap domains. Neither the age nor the time since edentulism influenced the masticatory function of IMO-wearing patients. However, IMO significantly improved the masticatory function in totally edentulous patients, and this is more evident for younger patients (≤ 65 years) with a shorter time since mandibular edentulism (< 25 years). The OHRQoL is only influenced by age and time since edentulism in complete denture wearers; IMO treatment eliminates these differences.

Impact of Orthodontic Treatment Complexity on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Turkish Patients: A Prospective Clinical Study.

The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between orthodontic treatment complexity and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and to assess the impact of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment on OHRQoL in orthodontic patients with regard to gender and age. This prospective clinical study included 102 patients aged 13-35 years who were referred to the orthodontic department. The impact of orthodontic treatment complexity was assessed using the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need (ICON). The Turkish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to examine the subjects for OHRQoL before and after treatment. The before and after treatment data (T1 and T2, respectively) were tested using a paired t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the Bonferroni test was used to assess the differences in OHIP-14 across groups, as defined by the ICON. The cross-sectional comparisons between genders and age groups before and after treatment were tested using the Student's t-test. The level of significance was set to a p value of 0.05. Patients with moderate treatment complexity reported a significantly negative impact on the psychological disability domain compared to the difficult treatment complexity. OHRQoL improved after treatment. Females showed statistically significant and highest scores on the physical pain domain compared to males. Adults showed a statistically significant negative impact on the psychological domains before treatment as well as a statistically significant positive impact on the psychological disability domain after treatment compared to adolescents (p<0.05). Orthodontic treatment improves OHRQoL, and orthodontic treatment complexity does not seem to have an impact on OHRQoL.

Prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in college preparatory students: associations with emotional factors, parafunctional habits, and impact on quality of life.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) signs and symptoms, its correlation with gender, parafunctional habits, emotional stress, anxiety, and depression and its impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQL) in college preparatory students at public and private institutions in João Pessoa, Paraíba (PB). The sample consisted of 303 students. Presence of TMD symptoms was determined by an anamnesis questionnaire containing questions related to the presence of parafunctional habits and emotional stress. A simplified clinical evaluation protocol was used. Anxiety and depression were determined with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale and the OHRQL using the short version contained in the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The Chi-square, Fisher Exact, Mann Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed. Presence of signs and symptoms of TMD was statistically associated (p ≤ 0,05) with female gender, parafunctional habits, emotional stress, and anxiety, and represented greater impairment of the OHRQL. The physical pain domain was the most affected. The increased prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD among college preparatory students indicates that there is a need for education and clarification among teachers and students to improve early diagnosis and to prevent the problem.

Dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life in aggressive periodontitis patients.

To measure dental anxiety levels and oral health-related qualities of life (OHRQoL) in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) compared to controls and analyze their association with various demographic and clinical parameters. Sixty consecutive patients with AgP were compared to 80 age- and sex-matched controls with no known history of periodontal disease. Collected data included demographics, smoking habits, numerical rating scale (NRS), Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), DMFT index (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth), Plaque Index (PI), probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and radiographic bone loss. AgP patients exhibited statistically significant higher scores in the DAS total as well as sub-scores, except from DAS 1st question. Compared to the control group, AgP patients exhibited worse OHIP-14 global as well as in all individual OHIP-14 domains scores. Among both AgP and control patients, the physical pain domain was where the highest impact was recorded, while the lowest impact was recorded in the functional limitation domain. AgP patients were positively associated with higher levels of dental anxiety and worse OHRQoL. Self-perception of dental anxiety and OHRQoL should be regarded as an integral element in routine diagnostic work-up process of periodontal diseases. Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) patients exhibited higher dental anxiety levels and worse oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) compared to controls. Professionals should design strategies that will cope with the dental anxiety associated with the treatment and prevent decreases in OHRQoL.

The life quality of the people with tuberculosis in observed taking administration

The World Health Organization assumed, since 1993, Tuberculosis, as a world emergency. The control of the disease is implemented by the strategy DOTS (Direct Observed Therapy Short Course) through standardized treatments, in administration of observed taking (TOD) in order to maximize the success of the treatment and to avoid the multi resistance. The monitorization of the problems lived by these patients is still little known. The present study is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of a 151 users of five Pneumologics Diagnostics Centres of the Oporto district (Portugal). The purposes of this study was to investigate the life quality of the people with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in administration of observed taking and its relation with the descriptive variables, socio-economic and clinic variables. The data was collected by: i) a bio and a clinical questionnaire, ii) the SF-36. The mean values of the life quality swing between 31.3 in the Vitality domain and 68.4 in the Physical Pain domain. The younger persons present better levels of life quality in Health in General and in the Performance Physical, occurring the inverse in the Social Performance. The data suggest a fragile life quality in what concerns the Vitality level (31.3), Mental Health (36.7) and Physic Performance (39.7). This study makes possible the future focus in the adjustment of the health services to the users' necessities, being able to optimize the approval to the treatment, increasing the therapeutic success, contributing this way to the disease control.