0053/2015 - Satisfaction with life, dental experience and oral health perception of elderlies
Satisfação com a vida, experiência odontológica e autopercepção em saúde bucal de idosos
Publicado
Author:
• Lilian Rigo - Rigo, L - PASSO FUNDO - IMED, Odontologia - <lilianrigo@via-rs.net>Co-author(s):
• Luiz Renato Paranhos - Paranhos, Luiz Renato - Universidade Fderal de Sergipe, Odontologia - <paranhos@ortodontista.com.br>• Jandir Pauli - Pauli, Jandir - IMED, Administraçao - <jandir@imed.edu.br>
• Graziela Oro Cericato - Cericato, Graziela Oro - IMED, Odontologia - <graziela.cericato@imed.edu.br>
• Kenny Basso - Basso, Kenny - IMED, Administraçao - <kenny@imed.edu.br>
• Raíssa Rigo Garbin - Garbin, Raíssa Rigo - Universidade de Passo Fundo, Medicina - <raissagarbin@hotmail.com>
Thematic Area:
Saúde BucalAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Analyze the relationship between life satisfaction and self-perception of oral health and experience with dentists.METHODS: The study has a cross-sectional epidemiological design with a sample of 326 elderly above 60 years of age living in a city in northern of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The instrument for data collection was a self-administered questionnaire with the self-perception in oral health (OHIP - Oral Health Impact Profile) indicators, the Scale of Life Satisfaction and sociodemographic questions.
RESULTS: The findings showed that older adults with higher levels of life satisfaction presenting a better perception of their own oral health as well as have a better image perceived about the dentists and feel less anxiety with their experiences with the dentist.
CONCLUSIONS: It was proven that both the self-perception that elderly have about oral health as well as experience with dentists has an association with the perceived life satisfaction. The results have important implications for decision and policy makers.
