Correlation analysis of factors and the geriatric oral health-related quality of life in Gumi

Objectives : The objective of this paper is to clarify the factors of the geriatric oral health influencing oral health-related quality of life by using the contracted OHIP-14 tool. Methods : This research conducted individual interview for 177 seniors using senior citizen center by using structured questionnaires. SAS(Ver.9.2) Program was used for the collected data to perform frequency analysis, reliability and scale analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results : The oral health-related quality of life level related to oral health according to the demographical characteristics showed that it was better in case that they are younger, married, more educated and have more living expenses. Except for age, oral health-related quality of life was connected to scholastic achievement, living expenses, subjective health condition and subjective oral health condition. The factors influencing the oral health condition were subjective health condition, marriage, scholastic achievement, living expenses, age and sex. As the subjective health condition is better, in case of cohabitation of only a couple and as the age or scholastic achievement is higher and the living expenses are more, the oral health condition was better. The factors influencing oral health-related quality of life were subjective oral health condition, marriage, sex, subjective health condition, scholastic achievement and living expenses. As the subjective oral health condition and health condition were better and in case of sole living and cohabitation of only a couple, male's oral health-related quality of life was higher. Conclusions : It is considered that because the geriatric oral health condition becomes an important factor to oral health-related quality of life, the development of the geriatric oral health business and the geriatric heal education program to maintain and improve oral health is required and the activation of the oral health insurance policy for preventive dental service is necessary.