Thesis(D.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-166). / Purpose: To describe the testing of oral health outcomes measures.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of clinical and self-reported oral health in two samples of veterans: 538 users of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient medical clinics (VHS) and 278 veterans from VA’s Dental Longitudinal Study (DLS). Clinical data incIuded number of teeth, tooth mobility, periodontal treatment need, an index of root caries, coronaI caries, oral mucosal status and denture stability and retention. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured by the Veterans SF-36. Oral-specific heaith-related quaIity of life (OQOL) measures included the single item seIf-report of oral health (OH1), the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP), the Geriatric (General) Oral Health Assessment Instrument (GOHAI), the D-E-N-T-A-L, a screening measure of need for care and the Oral Health Quality of Life (OHQOL) measure.
Results: Self-reported oral problems are significant burdens on the health and function of users of VA outpatient care. Self-reported oral health, as measured by the GOHAI, is associated with the general well-being of users of VA care. VA patients have worse clinical and self-reported oral health than community dwelling men of similar age. Clinically determined need for dental care was universai in the VHS and present in two-thirds of the DLS. The OH1 and the DENTAL are useful in identifying who needs dental care in the combined population. Criterion and construct validity of self-reported measures of oraI heaIth (OH1, OHIP, GOHAI) are supported by their associations with selected sociodemographic, behavioral and dental conditions in users of VA care. Validity is further supported by the association with recency of dental care and reason for last visit in the VHS.
Conclusions: VA outpatients have significant oral health needs as measured by self-report and clinical measures. Users of VA care have worse oral health than the general population. The OH1 and the DENTAL can help identify veterans who are in need of dental care. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the impact of oral health care on general health and well-being and to estimate the resources needed to meet the needs of veterans eligible for care in VA.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/37813 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Jones, Judith Ann |
| Publisher | Boston University |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
| Rights | This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author. |
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