63 - Oral Health Related Quality of Life in Nursing Home Residents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract:

Objective: The Holistic Oral Health Program for Elders (HOPE) provides oral health care services to low-income nursing home residents. Oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) is “an individual’s assessment of how the following aspects affect his well-being: functional factors, psychological factors, social factors and experiences of pain/discomfort in relation to orofacial concerns.” The objective of this study is to assess if the oral health services provided by the HOPE program is making a difference in the nursing home residents’ OHRQoL.

Methods: A cross-sectional study is scheduled on a sample of about 100 nursing home residents who have received oral health services from the HOPE program. A modified Oral Health Impact Profile - OHIP-14 questionnaire is designed to assess nursing home residents’ OHRQoL perceptions before and after oral health services was provided to them. Some examples of the questions included in the modified OHIP-14 questionnaire are “Have you had painful aching in your mouth?”, “Have you been bit embarrassed because of problems with teeth, mouth, or dentures?”. Descriptive analysis is planned to assess the demographic characteristics of the nursing home residents while bivariate analysis is planned to assess the domains and responses related to OHRQoL.

Results: Preliminary results will indicate changes in residents’ perception towards OHRQoL after oral health services were provided by the HOPE program.

Conclusion: Domains with the highest and lowest OHIP-14 scores will provide the HOPE program with information to make quality improvement efforts to their oral health services for the nursing home residents.

Source of Funding: HRSA Post-doc Grant