1Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
2Reader, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
3Post Graduate Student, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
4Tutor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Dharmashree S., Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Institute of Dental Sciences, Siksha ‘O ’Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India. Email: dharmashree_s@yahoo.com
Online published on 2 February, 2019.
In the recent times, OHQoL has emerged as an important parameter with wide implications for clinical practice and research in dentistry. OHQoL is a multi-dimensional construct, integrated into general and oral health.
To assess and evaluate the effect and impact of oral health on quality of life (QoL)among college students of Bhubaneswar.
1200 professional college students aged between 18–23 years participated in the study. The OHQoL questionnaire which was self-administered consisted of 16 questions accounting for effect and impact of oral health on their quality of life incorporating dimensions and an individualized weighting system was filled by the participants. Chi-square test was applied for gender variations of their responses on OHQoL.
1058 students eventually returned the filled questionnaire with 88% response rate. 65.6% of the participants credited enhancement of their quality of life because of their oral health; 10.2% thought their quality of life reduced due to their oral health. Majority (75.8%) of the participants believed oral health has an impact in all physical, social and psychological ways. Females had a greater positive effect on their quality of life than males with respect to their oral health especially among physical and social aspects (p < 0.05).
College students believe that oral health impacts their quality of life in physical, social and psychological ways in a positive manner.
College students, Oral Health, Quality of Life
