198054 Using multilevel analysis to examine dynamic oral quality of life of elderly over time

Monday, November 9, 2009

Dong-Hun Han , Preventive and Community Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Yangsan, South Korea
Hyun-Duck Kim , Preventive and Social Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
Nam Hee Kim , Department of Dental Hygine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea
Jin Bom Kim , Department of preventive dentistry, School of Dentistry, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
Objectives

This study aimed to use multilevel analysis to investigate the possible determinants of the changes of oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) in elderly, taking into account different demographic and clinical variables over a 1 year period.

Methods

The sample consisted of 98 elders over 60 years old participated in 1 year oral health promotion programs for the elderly in welfare institutions in Seoul, Korea. Dependent variable was OHRQoL of elderly which was assessed three times using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14. Level-2 data were gender, marital status, education, time in welfare institution, periodontal health status, remaining teeth, and intervention group; control, oral health educational, and preventive treatment group. We tested eight multilevel models with listed variables. The simplest model was that the sum of OHIP-14 depended on time. The other variables were then included sequentially in level-2; time in welfare institution, number of remaining teeth, periodontal health status, intervention group, education, marital status, gender.

Results

The variance of initial OHIP-14 mainly due to number of remaining teeth and partly due to periodontal status, time in welfare institution, and education, while the effect of all the variables to the slope of OHIP-14 were not significant.

Conclusion

It is important to study the possible causes of the changes in OHRQoL of elderly, in order to improve elder's satisfaction with oral health promotion program. The application of multilevel model demonstrates that it can be effective in the study of individual differences in evaluation of oral health promotion programs.

Learning Objectives:
The participants could be able to 1. explain with accuracy why OHRQoL is used for explaining the burden of oral diseases. 2. compare the strengths and weaknesses of multilevel analysis to those of conventional instrument. 3. discuss the realistic model of oral health promotion program for elderly.

Keywords: Elderly, Oral Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have no interest that might compromise my reliability.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Oral Health Needs of Adults and Elderly
See more of: Oral Health