Assessing oral health-related quality of life in Czech population

Czech version

Authors: L. Hodačová ¹; J. Šmejkalová ²; E. Čermáková ³; R. Slezák ⁴; J. Mareš ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Ústav sociálního lékařství Přednosta: prof. PhDr. Jiří Mareš, CSc. ¹; Ústav hygieny a preventivního lékařství Přednostka: doc. MUDr. Jindra Šmejkalová, CSc. ²; Oddělení výpočetní techniky Přednosta: doc. Ing. Josef Hanuš, CSc. ³; Stomatologická klinika Přednostka: doc. MUDr. Věra Hubková, CSc. Lékařská fakulta v Hradci Králové, Univerzita Karlova v Praze ⁴
Published in: Prakt. Lék. 2007; 87(7): 421-425
Category: Of different specialties

Overview

The purpose of this study was to use the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) to evaluate the impact of oral health on the quality of life in a sample of Czech population. The study sample consisted of 684 participants aged 30–69. Statistical analyses was performed using Mann-Whitney, Kolgomorov-Smirnov or Kruskal- Wallis test.

Internal reliability for the 14 items overall was very high (Cronbach’s alfa = 0,92). The most frequently mentioned impact of oral health on quality of life (answers fairly often and very often during last 12 months) were „Uncomfortable to eat“ (9,5 %) and „Painful aching“ (9,2 %). The study refered to the attitudes of respondents to their own oral health level including aesthetic aspects and effect of previous therapy. Knowledge of these data seems to be important for the formulation of health care needs and their financial support, evaluation of treatment efficacy, and creation of health care programs. It can even identify oral diseases and disturbances which patients interpret as the most serious oral problems requiring dentist’s intervention.

Key words:
quality of life, OHIP, oral health impact profile, international comparison.