Current status and influencing factors of oral health behavior among the elderly living in Gongshu District of Hangzhou City / 中华健康管理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the current status and influencing factors of oral health knowledge and behavior among the elderly living in Gongshu District of Hangzhou City.Methods A total of 600 elderly individuals were selected by multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling and interviewed with a self-designed questionnaire which included demographic characteristics and oral health knowledge and behavior.The status and influencing factors of oral health behavior were analyzed by single and multiplefactor analysis methods.Results A questionnaire survey was conducted among 600 elderly residents,with a response rate of 99.3％ (596/600) and an effective response rate of 94.1％ (561/600).The rate of good oral hygiene was 50.4％.Those elderly with different age,education level,medical insurance and oral hygiene showed significant difference in qualified rate of oral health behavior (x2 values were 10.79,21.32,5.72 and 16.33,respectively; all P＜0.05).In Logistic regression model,education level was positively correlated with oral health behavior among the elderly,and the qualified rate of oral health behavior of the elderly with education level of junior school or above was 2.69 times higher than that of illiterate elderly (x2=10.53,P=0.001).Conclusion The awareness rate of oral health knowledge among the elderly living in Gongshu District of Hangzhou City is at a relatively higher level,though oral health behavior is moderate.Age,education level,medical insurance and oral hygiene could be impacting factors of oral health behavior.