Youth with disability: Access to and Impact of Oral Healthcare

OBJECTIVE: Disability has profound effects on health, including oral health. When oral health is compromised, overall health and quality of life (QoL) may be diminished. This study aimed to correlate functional health-status to oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and access to dental care in individuals with disability. METHOD: A descriptive correlational study was implemented and carried out in the community. Individuals meeting the inclusion criteria of diagnosed physical disability and age (15-25) were asked to participate. Instruments used included: 1) The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) to assess severity of disability in terms of need for assistance. 2) The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) to elicit information regarding the impact oral health has on QoL. 3) A modified Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSQ) to measure overall satisfaction. RESULTS: Thirty-six subjects (19 males, 17 females, mean age 19) enrolled. Uni-variate descriptive statistics for central tendencies revealed a mean FIM score of 97.7±24 indicating a sample with moderately high independence. The mean OHIP-14 score of 5.1±5 signified minimal impact on OHRQoL. Over the past year, 69% of subjects never or hardly ever experienced problems with their teeth or mouth; however, seven subjects (19.4%) reported occasional painful aching in their mouth. The mean modified DSQ score of 176.3±27 suggested a moderate level of access to and satisfaction with dental care. Yet, two-third of the subjects had difficulty finding a fully accessible dental office. Also among their concerns were dental fees, scheduling appointments, pain reduction, and the dental team's lack of communication with other healthcare providers. Seven subjects (19.4%) felt persons without disability received better dental care than those with disability. When considering their overall disabling condition, 69% of subjects indicated their oral health to be of equal priority. CONCLUSION: In accordance with our hypothesis, functional independence, access to dental care, and OHRQoL appear to correlate positively. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Supported by NIH grant- T32 DE07302-11, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, and Hospital for Special Care.