Oral Health Educational Intervention and Quality of Life of Older Adults in Community Groups
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20262332Keywords:
Oral health, quality of life, older adults, educational interventionAbstract
Introduction: Oral health is a significant concern among older adults, negatively impacting quality of life due to conditions such as dental caries and tooth loss.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of an oral health educational intervention on the quality of life of older adults belonging to two community groups in the city of Coronel, Chile
Methodology: A pre-experimental design with pretest and posttest was applied, using the OHIP-14 questionnaire with 18 participants over 65 years old, self-sufficient, and with at least one natural tooth. The intervention, based on the Health Belief Model, consisted of four 45-minute educational sessions developed through participatory methods, addressing topics such as oral diseases, prevention, psychosocial consequences, and healthy habits.
Results:Significant improvements were observed in the psychosocial dimensions of the OHIP-14, particularly dissatisfaction with oral appearance (p < 0.001), loss of self-confidence (p = 0.005), and embarrassment related to oral health problems (p = 0.016). Positive changes were also identified in social disability (p = 0.029) and handicap (p = 0.012). Although no significant differences were found in all dimensions or in the overall score, a favorable trend was observed toward a reduced perception of the negative impact of oral health on quality of life.
Conclusion:The educational intervention proved to be an accessible and low-cost strategy with the potential to improve the perception of oral health, self-image, and social interaction among older adults.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Milenka Saimara Pérez Aguilar, María del Pilar Acosta Zambrano (Author)
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