The effect of oral health on quality of life in an underprivileged homebound and non-homebound elderly population in Jerusalem

OBJECTIVES: To measure the effect of oral health on quality of life in elderly people in Jerusalem and to compare homebound and nonhomebound people. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, purposive cluster sample. SETTING: Community-based, one dental clinic, three geriatric day centers, and home visits. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred forty-four underprivileged people aged 60 and older, 64 of whom were homebound. MEASUREMENTS: Score on the shortened version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) (validated for Hebrew) was the dependent variable. One dental assistant conducted a structured interview, including universal variables, and one dentist examined dental status. RESULTS: Average OHIP-14 level was 10.43. For total OHIP-14, the odds ratio comparing the homebound with the nonhomebound population was 2.06 (P=.03). After multiple logistic regression, functional ability and education level reached independent significance for OHIP-14 level were. CONCLUSION: Homebound elderly people reported greater difficulties than nonhomebound people in communication, eating, relaxation, and life satisfaction as related to oral health.