September 2008

Volume 25, Issue 3

Oral health and its impact on the life quality of homeless people in Hong Kong

Authors: Y. Luo C. McGrath
doi: 10.1922/CDH_2157Lou06

Abstract

Objectives: To report on the oral health status and its impact on the life quality of homeless people in Hong Kong. Design: A cross sectional epidemiological survey involving clinical oral examinations and face-to-face interviews with 147 homeless participants. Clinical examinations were carried out following WHO criteria. The impact of oral health on quality of life was assessed with the short form of Oral Health Impact Profile, OHIP-14. Results: Over 90% had caries experience and most related to untreated decay. The mean DMFT score for dentate subjects was 8.1 (DT = 3.4, MT = 4.0, FT = 0.7). Periodontal disease was highly prevalent, 96% having periodontal pockets. The burden of oral health on their daily lives was common, 88% reporting an oral health impact within the past year. A multiple regression analysis indicated that the OHIP-14 score had significant associations with self-rated oral health, dental pain, employment status and length of time being homeless (p<0.05). Those who assessed rated oral health as ‘poor/very poor’, reported dental pain in the past year, were unemployed, and homeless for more than one year had poorer oral health related quality of life (significantly higher OHIP scores) than their counterparts. Conclusion: Among the homeless population studied, oral health status was poor and its impact on their life quality was substantial. The oral health impact was associated with socio-demographics and perceived dental problems. Key words: Homeless, oral health, quality of life

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial - Research on oral health and the quality of life – a critical overview 130-131 Download
Comparison of two methods in deriving a short version of oral health-related quality of life measure. 132-136 Download
Oral health and its impact on the life quality of homeless people in Hong Kong 137-142 Download
The presenting complaints of low income adults for emergency dental care: An analysis of 35,000 episodes in Victoria, Australia. 143-147 Download
International variation in the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer 148-153 Download
Caries prevalence in 2-year-old children in the city of Zurich 154-160 Download
Association between breastfeeding duration and non-nutritive sucking habits 161-165 Download
I want braces: factors motivating patients and their parents to seek orthodontic treatment. 166-169 Download
Cariogenic and erosive potential of the medication used by HIV-infected children: pH and sugar concentration 170-172 Download
Prevalence of breath malodour in 7-11 year old children living in Middle Anatolia, Turkey. 173-177 Download
Enamel fluorosis in 12- and 15-year-old school children in Costa Rica. Results of a National Survey, 1999 178-184 Download
Restorative treatment threshold reported by Iranian dentists 185-190 Download
Short Communication - Fissure sealants on permanent first molars – consequences of a one-year delay 191-192 Download

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