Self-report Measures Of Disability Research Articles

Biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic low back pain disability in rural Nigeria: a population-based cross-sectional study

IntroductionMany people in Nigeria are living with disability due to chronic low back pain (CLBP), with the greatest burden accounted for by people living in rural Nigeria. However, factors associated...

The vulnerability of self-reported disability measures to malingering: a simulated ADHD study

Objective: Making diagnostic and accommodation decisions for potential Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults is difficult, as the assessor often relies more on self-reported symptoms and functional disability than in childhood evaluations. Malingering of ADHD occurs frequently in the educational setting and for a variety of reasons, including the potential benefits of access to stimulant medications and academic accommodations. Method: The present study utilized a simulation design to examine the potential for malingering of self-reported functional disability on the World Health Organization Disability Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS). Participants were 167 students from two Midwestern universities. Thirty-six self-reported a previous diagnosis of ADHD, and the remaining 131 students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: best effort, malingering for the purpose of receiving stimulant medication, or malingering for the purpose of receiving extra time accommodations. Results: Individuals in both malingering groups reported higher levels of disability on all domains of the WHODAS compared to healthy controls and individuals with ADHD. There were no significant differences between malingering groups. Conclusions: Results suggest the WHODAS is susceptible to non-credible responses and should not be relied upon solely as a measure of disability in the context of ADHD evaluations.

Upper limb functional capacity of working patients with osteoarthritis of the hands: A cross-sectional study

Study DesignA cross-sectional design was used. IntroductionLittle is known about the effects of osteoarthritis of the hands (OAH) on work ability in working patients with OAH. Purpose of the StudyThe study aimed to analyze the differences in upper limb functional capacity (ULFC) between working patients with OAH and healthy workers and to evaluate variables associated with ULFC and with self-reported disability (SRD) in working patients with OAH. MethodsForty-one patients performed the ULFC Evaluation (ULFCE) and also completed 2 SRD measures. The patients' results were compared with the ULFCE results of 82 matched healthy workers from a reference database. Three sets of multivariate regression analyses were used to reveal the predictors of ULFC and SRD. ResultsPatients scored 12%-45% lower on all ULFCE tests (P values ranging from P P Discussion Working patients with OAH had a considerably lower ULFC compared with healthy workers. Female gender and the presence of OAH predicted lower ULFC. Pain and lower finger strength predicted worse scores on SRD. Conclusion(s)In the case of professionals advising working patients with OAH, our results suggest that a careful evaluation of the ULFC and SRD is warranted. Subsequently, advice regarding exercises or adjustments at work can be given. Level of Evidence3b.

An attention and interpretation bias for illness-specific information in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Studies have shown that specific cognitions and behaviours play a role in maintaining chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). However, little research has investigated illness-specific cognitive processing in CFS. This study investigated whether CFS participants had an attentional bias for CFS-related stimuli and a tendency to interpret ambiguous information in a somatic way. It also determined whether cognitive processing biases were associated with co-morbidity, attentional control or self-reported unhelpful cognitions and behaviours. A total of 52 CFS and 51 healthy participants completed self-report measures of symptoms, disability, mood, cognitions and behaviours. Participants also completed three experimental tasks, two designed specifically to tap into CFS salient cognitions: (i) visual-probe task measuring attentional bias to illness (somatic symptoms and disability) v. neutral words; (ii) interpretive bias task measuring positive v. somatic interpretations of ambiguous information; and (iii) the Attention Network Test measuring general attentional control. Compared with controls, CFS participants showed a significant attentional bias for fatigue-related words and were significantly more likely to interpret ambiguous information in a somatic way, controlling for depression and anxiety. CFS participants had significantly poorer attentional control than healthy individuals. Attention and interpretation biases were associated with fear/avoidance beliefs. Somatic interpretations were also associated with all-or-nothing behaviour and catastrophizing. People with CFS have illness-specific biases which may play a part in maintaining symptoms by reinforcing unhelpful illness beliefs and behaviours. Enhancing adaptive processing, such as positive interpretation biases and more flexible attention allocation, may provide beneficial intervention targets.

Unique Contributions of Body Diagram Scores and Psychosocial Factors to Pain Intensity and Disability in Patients With Musculoskeletal Pain.

Study Design Retrospective cross-sectional cohort of military patients with musculoskeletal pain. Background Body diagrams are used to document symptoms and can also serve as a proxy to assess psychological influence. However, literature to support this is conflicting. Objectives To (1) examine the unique contribution of pain and nonpain symptom distribution to magnitude of self-reported pain intensity and disability, and (2) assess the moderating influence of psychological factors and body diagram score on concurrent pain intensity and disability. Methods Pain, numbness, and tingling were denoted on a body diagram at initial evaluation. Fear-avoidance beliefs, pain catastrophizing, and region-specific self-reported disability measures were collected. The contributions of pain and nonpain symptom distribution to pain intensity and disability were assessed to determine which body diagram symptom scoring method (pain only, nonpain, or composite) was appropriate for subsequent analyses. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were then used to determine the moderating effects of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire and the body diagram score on concurrent pain and disability. Results The Pain Catastrophizing Scale and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire explained between 16% and 17% of the variance in pain intensity, and 8% of variance in disability (all, P<.001). The composite symptom score explained an additional 4% to 5% variance in concurrent disability and pain intensity (all, P<.001). The Pain Catastrophizing Scale moderated the relationship between body diagram score and pain intensity. The positive relationship between composite symptom score and concurrent pain intensity is stronger for patients with low catastrophizing. Conclusion The clinical utility of body diagrams with low symptom distribution may be improved by concomitant assessment of pain catastrophizing and warrants further longitudinal investigation. Level of Evidence Symptom prevalence, level 2b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(2):88-96. Epub 5 Nov 2016. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.6778.

Outcomes from eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in active-duty service members with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is one of the therapy interventions recommended by the Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines. However, the literature concerning the effectiveness of this treatment modality in military service members is sparse. This study investigated the efficacy of EMDR in active-duty service members. We conducted an effectiveness study with a record review from active-duty military mental health clinics where clinical outcomes had been monitored over a 10-week period using self-report measures of posttraumatic stress and disability. Symptom scores were examined over time in 331 service members who met presumptive criteria for the disorder on the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M), who were in psychotherapy, and who received (n = 46) or didn't receive (n = 285) EMDR. Results indicated that patients receiving EMDR had significantly fewer therapy sessions over 10 weeks but had significantly greater gains in their PCL-M scores than did individuals not receiving EMDR. Randomized, controlled trials are still needed, but these findings provide further support for the use of EMDR in service members with PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record

A Longitudinal Study of Adjustment Disorder After Trauma Exposure.

Adjustment disorder has been recategorized as a trauma- and stressor-related disorder in DSM-5. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of adjustment disorder in the first 12 months after severe injury; to determine whether adjustment disorder was a less severe disorder compared with other disorders in terms of disability and quality of life; to investigate the trajectory of adjustment disorder; and to examine whether the subtypes described in DSM-5 are distinguishable. In a multisite, cohort study, injury patients were assessed during hospitalization and at 3 and 12 months postinjury (N=826). Structured clinical interviews were used to assess affective, anxiety, and substance use disorders, and self-report measures of disability, anxiety, depression, and quality of life were administered. The prevalence of adjustment disorder was 19% at 3 months and 16% at 12 months. Participants with adjustment disorder reported worse outcomes relative to those with no psychiatric diagnosis but better outcomes compared with those diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders. Participants with adjustment disorder at 3 months postinjury were significantly more likely to meet criteria for a psychiatric disorder at 12 months (odds ratio=2.67, 95% CI=1.59-4.49). Latent-profile analysis identified a three-class model that was based on symptom severity, not the subtypes identified by DSM-5. Recategorization of adjustment disorder into the trauma- and stressor-related disorders is supported by this study. However, further description of the phenomenology of the disorder is required.

Is low-dose amitriptyline effective in the management of chronic low back pain? Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BackgroundLow back pain is a major clinical and public health problem, with limited evidence-based treatments. Low-dose antidepressants are commonly used to treat pain in chronic low back pain. However, their efficacy is unproven. The aim of this pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial is to determine whether low-dose amitriptyline (an antidepressant) is more effective than placebo in reducing pain in individuals with chronic low back pain.Methods/designOne hundred and fifty individuals with chronic low back pain will be recruited through hospital and private medical and allied health clinics, advertising in local media and posting of flyers in community locations. They will be randomly allocated to receive either low-dose amitriptyline (25 mg) or an active placebo (benztropine mesylate, 1 mg) for 6 months. The primary outcome measure of pain intensity will be assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months using validated questionnaires. Secondary measures of self-reported low back disability, work absence and hindrance in the performance of paid/unpaid work will also be examined. Intention-to-treat analyses will be performed.DiscussionThis pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of low-dose antidepressants compared with placebo in reducing pain, disability, work absenteeism and hindrance in work performance in individuals with chronic low back pain. This trial has major public health and clinical importance as it has the potential to provide an effective approach to the management of chronic low back pain.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000131853; registered on 30 January 2012.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-016-1637-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Sensitivity to Movement-Evoked Pain and Multi-Site Pain are Associated with Work-Disability Following Whiplash Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives Previous research has shown that sensitivity to movement-evoked pain is associated with higher scores on self-report measures of disability in individuals who have sustained whiplash injuries. However, it remains unclear whether sensitivity to movement-evoked pain is associated with work-disability. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between sensitivity to movement-evoked pain and occupational status in individuals receiving treatment for whiplash injury. Methods A sample of 105 individuals with whiplash injuries participated in a testing session where different measures of pain (i.e. spontaneous pain, multi-site pain, sensitivity to movement-evoked pain) were collected during the performance of a simulated occupational lifting task. Results Hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that the measures of multisite pain and sensitivity to movement-evoked pain made significant independent contributions to the prediction of work-disability. Discussion The findings suggest that including measures of multisite pain and sensitivity to movement evoked pain in assessment protocols has the potential to increase the value of pain assessments for the prediction of occupational disability associated with whiplash injury. Clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are addressed.

The long-term psychiatric sequelae of severe injury: a 6-year follow-up study.

The impact of mental health on disease burden associated with injury represents a major public health issue, yet almost no information is available on the associated long-term mental health outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to assess the psychiatric outcomes 6 years after a severe injury and their subsequent impact on long-term disability. The secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and long-term psychiatric disorder and its impact on disability. From April 2004 to February 2006, randomly selected injury patients admitted to 4 hospitals across Australia were assessed during hospitalization and at 72 months after trauma (N = 592). Injury characteristics, the presence of an mTBI (ICD-9 criteria), and previous psychiatric history were assessed during hospitalization. Structured clinical interviews for psychiatric disorders (DSM-IV and DSM-5) and a self-report measure of disability (WHODAS II) were administered at 72 months. At 72 months after a severe injury, 28% of patients met criteria for at least 1 psychiatric disorder, with 45% of those presenting with comorbid diagnoses. The most prevalent psychiatric disorder was a major depressive episode (11%) followed by substance use disorder (9%), agoraphobia (9%), posttraumatic stress disorder (6%), and generalized anxiety disorder (6%). The presence of any psychiatric disorder was found to increase the risk for disability (P < .001, odds ratio = 6.04). An mTBI was found to increase the risk for having some anxiety disorders but not to increase disability by itself. The long-term psychiatric consequences of severe injury are substantial and represent a significant contributor to long-term disability. This study points to an important intersection between injury and psychiatric disorder as a leading contributor to disease burden and suggests this growing burden will impose new challenges on health systems.

Psychometric properties of the Neck OutcOme Score, Neck Disability Index, and Short Form–36 were evaluated in patients with neck pain

ObjectiveTo assess reliability, construct validity, responsiveness, and interpretability for Neck OutcOme Score (NOOS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Short Form–36 (SF-36) in neck pain patients. Study Design and SettingInternal consistency was assessed by Cronbach alpha. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and measurement error was estimated from the standard error of measurement. Responsiveness was assessed as standardized response mean (SRM) and interpretability from the minimal important difference (MID). Construct validity was tested correlating subscale scores from NOOS and SF-36 and NDI items. ResultsAt baseline, 196 neck pain patients were included. Cronbach α was adequate for most NOOS subscales, NDI, and SF-36 with few exceptions. Good to excellent reliability was found for NOOS subscales (ICC 0.88–0.95), for NDI, and for SF-36 with few exceptions. For NOOS, minimal detectable changes varied between 1.1 and 1.9, and construct validity was supported. SRMs were higher for NOOS subscales (0.19–0.42), compared to SF-36 and NDI. MID values varied between 15.0 and 24.1 for NOOS subscales. ConclusionsIn conclusion, the NOOS is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of self-reported disability in neck pain patients, performing at least as well or better than the commonly used SF-36 and NDI.

Disability and Mental Disorders in the Canadian Armed Forces.

The initial goal was to validate the use of a self-report measure of disability in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The main goal was to document the extent of disability in personnel with and without mental disorders. Data were obtained from the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey; the sample included 6700 Regular Forces personnel. Disability was measured with the 12-item version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS-2); established cut points were used to demarcate severe, moderate, minimal, and no disability. The following recent (past-year) and remote (lifetime but not past-year) disorders were assessed with diagnostic interviews: posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive episode, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The WHODAS-2 showed good internal consistency (α = 0.89) and a 1-factor structure. Most personnel had no disability (59.2%) or minimal disability (30.8%). However, an important minority had moderate or severe disability (8.4% and 1.6%, respectively). Individuals with recent disorders reported greater disability than those without lifetime disorders, although many had minimal or no disability (41.2% and 24.7%, respectively). Disability increased with the number of recent disorders. Relative to those without lifetime disorders, individuals with remote disorders showed slightly greater disability, but most had no disabilty (57.1%) or minimal disability (35.0%). The 12-item WHODAS-2 is a valid measure of disability in the CAF. Mental disorders may be important drivers of disability in this population, although limited residual disability is seen in individuals with remote disorders.

Chronic pain acceptance incrementally predicts disability in polytrauma-exposed veterans at baseline and 1-year follow-up

War veterans are at increased risk for chronic pain and co-occurring neurobehavioral problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol-related problems, and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Each condition is associated with disability, particularly when co-occurring. Pain acceptance is a strong predictor of lower levels of disability in chronic pain. This study examined whether acceptance of pain predicted current and future disability beyond the effects of these co-occurring conditions in war veterans. Eighty trauma-exposed veterans with chronic pain completed a PTSD diagnostic interview, clinician-administered mTBI screening, and self-report measures of disability, pain acceptance, depression, and alcohol use. Hierarchical regression models showed pain acceptance to be incrementally associated with disability after accounting for symptoms of PTSD, depression, alcohol-related problems, and mTBI (total adjusted R2 = .57, p < .001, ΔR2 = .03, p = .02). At 1-year follow-up, the total variance in disability accounted for by the model decreased (total adjusted R2 = .29, p < .001), whereas the unique contribution of pain acceptance increased (ΔR2 = .07, p = .008). Pain acceptance remained significantly associated with 1-year disability when pain severity was included in the model. Future research should evaluate treatments that address chronic pain acceptance and co-occurring conditions to promote functional recovery in the context of polytrauma in war veterans.

Stages of Change Profiles among Adults Experiencing Hearing Difficulties Who Have Not Taken Any Action: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that adults experiencing hearing difficulties who are aware of their difficulties but have not taken any action would fall under contemplation and preparation stages based on the transtheoretical stages-of-change model. The study employed a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted in United Kingdom and 90 participants completed University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) scale as well as measures of self-reported hearing disability, self-reported anxiety and depression, self-reported hearing disability acceptance, and provided additional demographic details online. As predicted, the results indicate that a high percentage of participants (over 90%) were in the contemplation and preparation stages. No statistically significant differences were observed among groups of stage with highest URICA scores and factors such as: years since hearing disability, self-reported hearing disability, self-reported anxiety and depression, and self-reported hearing disability acceptance. Cluster analysis identified three stages-of-change clusters, which were named as: decision making (53% of sample), participation (28% of sample), and disinterest (19% of sample). Study results support the stages-of-change model. In addition, implications of the current study and areas for future research are discussed.

Female disability disadvantage: a global perspective on sex differences in physical function and disability.

The objectives were to determine whether women always fare more poorly in terms of physical function and disability across countries that vary widely in terms of their level of development, epidemiologic context and level of gender equality. Sex differences in self-reported and objective measures of disability and physical function were compared among older adults aged 55-85 in the United States of America, Taiwan, Korea, Mexico, China, Indonesia and among the Tsimane of Bolivia using population-based studies collected between 2001 and 2011. Data were analysed using logistic and ordinary least-squares regression. Confidence intervals were examined to see whether the effect of being female differed significantly between countries. In all countries, women had consistently worse physical functioning (both self-reported and objectively measured). Women also tended to report more difficulty with activities of daily living (ADL), although differences were not always significant. In general, sex differences across measures were less pronounced in China. In Korea, women had significantly lower grip strength, but sex differences in ADL difficulty were non-significant or even reversed. Education and marital status helped explain sex differences. Overall, there was striking similarity in the magnitude and direction of sex differences across countries despite considerable differences in context, although modest variations in the effect of sex were observed.

Body mass index trajectories and functional decline in older adults: Three-City Dijon cohort study.

Obesity, whose prevalence is increasing, is associated with poor functional status at older ages. However, much of this evidence is cross-sectional with little known about longitudinal associations. We examined associations of body mass index (BMI), and change in BMI, with change in objective [walking speed (WS)] and self-reported (disability) measures of motor decline. Analyses included participants (65-85 years) from the Dijon center of the Three-City study (France) with up to five WS (N = 4007) and six disability assessments (N = 4478) over 11 years. Data were analyzed using regression models for repeated measures. Mean baseline WS was 153 cm/s. Compared to normal weight persons, obese participants at baseline walked slower and reported more disability; they also experienced 45% faster WS decline (-18.63 vs. -12.85 cm/s/10 years, P = 0.002). Participants who lost or gained weight had 47% (-18.85 cm/s/10 years, P < 0.001) and 33% (-17.08 cm/s/10 years, P = 0.002) respectively greater WS decline than participants in the normal BMI change category. 24% of participants reported disability at least once during the follow-up, those who lost or gained weight had a 1.63 and 1.34 respectively higher odds of disability than participants in the normal BMI change category (P = 0.001). Associations remained after adjustment for covariates. In conclusion, obesity is associated with worse motor performances, a higher risk of disability, and faster motor decline. Our results underline the interest of repeated BMI and motor assessments to identify those at higher risk of disability.

Coordination and balance in children with birth-related brachial plexus injury: a preliminary study.

Most children with severe birth-related brachial plexus injury (BRBPI) have some functional impairment, but information on the impact of BRBPI on coordination and balance is limited. The study's purpose was to determine whether children with BRBPI exhibit deficits in body coordination and balance. A prospective cohort study involving 39 children with BRBPI aged 5-15 years was conducted. Range of motion, strength, active movement, and balance and coordination motor skills were assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2), and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2). A self-report measure of physical disability, the Activities Scale for Kids-Performance Version (ASKp), was also administered. Participants scored a mean of 44.72 on the BOT-2 Body Coordination composite subtest; scores can range from 20 to 80. Eleven participants (28.2%) scored below average on this test. Participants scored a mean of 7.3 on the Balance subtest of the MABC-2; scores can range from 1 to 19. Twenty-six participants (66.7%) scored below average on this test. Of 38 participants, 25 (65.8%) had an ASKp score indicating some level of disability (<95/100); we found a statistically significant difference in balance (p=0.007) between these 25 participants and those without disability (ASKp score 95-100). The majority of our study population scored in the categories of at risk or significant difficulty for balance on the MABC-2. Balance rehabilitation may be a valuable treatment adjunct for children with BRBPI.

Construct validity and clinical utility of current research criteria of DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder diagnosis in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

ObjectiveThe validity and clinical utility of current research criteria of the DSM 5 category somatic symptom disorder (SSD) needs to be tested outside the setting of psychiatry. MethodsConsecutive patients with an established diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) were evaluated by medical examination, psychiatric interview and self-report questionnaires in an outpatient pain medicine center. The diagnosis of SSD was established using published research criteria. The discriminative concurrent criterion validity of SSD was tested by comparing FMS-patients with and without SSD as to the amount of impairment and of health care seeking. Two clinicians blinded as to the purpose of the study, assessed the medical reports of patients after the evaluation for the determination of the need for psychotherapy based on the German FMS — guideline recommendations (clinical utility). Results25.6% of 156 patients met the criteria of SSD. Patients meeting SSD criteria scored significantly higher in a self-report measure of disability. There were no significant differences in the number of patients on sick leave or applying for disability pension and in self-reported doctor visits and physiotherapy in the previous six months. 95.0% of patients with SSD and 71.6% of patients without SSD met the criteria of a current anxiety or depressive disorder as assessed by the psychiatric interview. 80.0% of patients with SSD and 66.7% of patients without SSD received a recommendation for psychotherapy. ConclusionsThe construct validity and clinical utility of current research criteria of DSM 5 category SSD were limited in German patients with FMS.

Long-term work disability and absenteeism in anxiety and depressive disorders

BackgroundThis longitudinal study aims to compare long-term work disability and absenteeism between anxiety and depressive disorders focusing on the effects of different course trajectories (remission, recurrence and chronic course) and specific symptom dimensions (anxiety arousal, avoidance behaviour and depressive mood). MethodsWe included healthy controls, subjects with a history of – and current anxiety and/or depressive disorders with a paid job (n=1632). The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to diagnose anxiety and depressive disorders and to assess course trajectories at baseline, over 2 and 4 years. The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II and the Health and Labour Questionnaire Short Form were used to measure work disability and absenteeism. Symptom dimensions were measured using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Fear Questionnaire and the Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology. ResultsA history of – and current anxiety and/or depressive disorders were associated with increasing work disability and absenteeism over 4 years, compared to healthy controls. Long-term work disability and absenteeism were most prominent in comorbid anxiety–depressive disorder, followed by depressive disorders, and lowest in anxiety disorders. A chronic course, anxiety arousal and depressive mood were strong predictors for long-term work disability while baseline psychiatric status, a chronic course and depressive mood were strong predictors for long-term work absenteeism. LimitationsResults cannot be generalized to other anxiety disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and specific phobias. Self-reported measures of work disability and absenteeism were used. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that depressive syndromes and symptoms have more impact on future work disability and absenteeism than anxiety, implying that prevention of depression is of major importance.

Impact of Oral Diseases on the Quality of Life of Public Service Workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: The oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) scale is a valid, reliable and globally accepted tool for comprehensive measure of self-reported dysfunction, discomfort and disability attributed to oral conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate subjectively the impact of oral disease on the quality of life of public service workers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted among public service workers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of 638 participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data werecollected using pre-tested self-administered questionnaires containing information on biodemographics, dental service utilization and OHIP-14 variables. Analysis of OHIP-14 was done using the simple count and additive method on statistical package for social sciences spread sheet. Results: About 20% of the participants had OHIP score > 14. A total of 143 (22.4%) participants had utilized dental services in the past, 62.4% of this had OHIP score > 14. The impact as aresult of oral health status experienced among the participants was ‘self-consciousness’, 62.3%; ‘painful aching’, 44.3% and ‘uncomfortable to eat’ 32.8%. There was no significant difference in quality of life in relation to gender, age educational status and salary grade level. Conclusion: Oral disease had a negative impact on quality of life; this impact was greater in the psychological and physical domain of the OHIP-14 scale. Respondents who reported greater impact of oral disease on their quality of life utilized dental services more frequently compared to those who reported less impact.