Self-perception of quality of life in oral health of adults in Valparaíso, Chile

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the self-perception of quality of life in oral health of adults in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional case series study was carried out in adults residing in the commune of Valparaíso, with convenience sampling. The GOHAI instrument was used to measure oral quality of life, applied in November 2023. A descriptive analysis of the data was carried out and the association between quality of life in oral health, measured by the GOHAI test score, was evaluated, and the qualitative independent variables. Results: The sample was made up of 113 respondents, of which 60.18% were women (n=68) and 39.82% were men (n=45). The average age was 43.84 years. The GOHAI showed a general mean of 47.33 points and a median of 49.00 points, indicating a good quality of life. No statistically significant differences were found between the GOHAI total results with respect to age, sex, and type of care facility (public, private, mixed; p>0.05). Conclusions: Quality of life in relation to oral health was good in 73% of the sample, while 27% rated themselves as fair or poor. Oral health, when negatively affected, affects the way in which the individual relates to his or her environment. This percentage suggests that interventions in patients from the public, private and mixed system are still not enough to improve oral quality of life in a comprehensive manner.