The Effect of Denture Care Skills Education Program on Denture Self-care, Denture Satisfaction and Oral Health-related Quality of Life (OHIP-14) among the Elderly

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of denture care skills education program on denture self-care, denture satisfaction and subjective oral status among the elderly. METHODS: The research design for this study was a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design. Total 61 elderly who visited a seniors center, Seoul, Korea, participated in this study. Participants were 31 elderly for the experimental group and 30 elderly for the control group. The experimental group received a lesson in denture care skills education program which was developed by the researchers. Using a structural questionnaire, the elderly's perception about denture self-care, denture satisfaction and subjective oral status were measured before and after the intervention. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, chi-square test, and ANCOVA test were performed using SPSS WIN 21.0. RESULTS: The experimental group showed significantly higher scores in denture satisfaction(p<.001), QOL of oral health(<.001), concern for oral health(p=.005), subjective oral health status(p<.001), bad breath(p=.010), oral dryness(p<.001) and number of denture clearing(p<.001). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the denture care skills education program for elderly at a senior center was effective. Further work is required to develop more effective denture care skills education programs and an oral health promotion program to improve the health status of the elderly.