Impact of the oral health-related quality of life(OHIP-14) of industrial workers in some area

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective oral health awareness, oral health knowledge, oral health behavior and OHIP-14 in industrial workers. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by 243 workers in Jeonbuk May 7 to June 10, 2014. Except incomplete answers, 230 data were analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of the subjects(sex, age, career, marital status, abd family), oral health recognition characteristics(oral health attention, subjective oral health status, and oral health concern), oral health knowledge, oral health behavior, and oral health related quality of life. The instrument was 14 questions od OHIP-14 including functional restriction(2 questions), physical pain(2 questions), psychological discomfort(2 questions), physical ability decease(2 questions), psychological function decease(2 questions), social activity decrease (2 questions), and social discomfort(2 questions). Cronbach's alpha was 0.949 in this study and it was reliable. Results: Oral health interests showed that 57.8% of the workers had concern for oral health interests and 50.4% perceived that their subjective oral health was moderate status. 55.6% of the workers answered that their oral health status was very worried. Women had more knowledge about the oral health. Those who were in fifties tended to have more knowledge of oral health than the other age groups. Those who had more concern for oral health included female workers, married workers, and workers above 21 years. The concern for oral health made the workers keep good oral health. Higher score of OHIP-14 means good oral health. Conclusions: Good oral health-related quality of life is proportional to continuous management of oral health and subjective oral health status. It is necessary to develop the tailored oral health education program for the workers.Key Words: oral health behavior, oral health knowledge, oral health-related quality of life(OHIP-14), subjective oral health awareness, workers 색인: 구강건강 삶의 질, 구강보건실천행동, 구강보건지식, 근로자, 주관적 구강건강인지 9)