A study on the oral health awareness of the elderly for dental health project planning

구강보건사업계획에 필요한 노인의 구강건강 인식에 관한 연구 - 전주시 -

The purpose of this study was to examine the oral health state of the elderly in an effort to pave the way for dental health project planning for the elderly for the city of Jeonju and to help promote the oral health of the elderly population to which health care services weren't accessible a lot. The subjects in this study were 300 elderly people who were in their 60s and up and used 10 different welfare establishments for the elderly in Jeonju. A survey was conducted from May 3 through 13, 2005, by interviewing them in person, and the collected data were analyzed. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. In terms of the period of oral health examination, 44.1 percent of the 66-70 age group, 48.1 percent of the elementary school graduates and 39.4 percent of the house owners had their teeth examined whenever they had a toothache. So their cycle of oral health examination was statistically significantly different according to age(p<.05), education(p<0.001) and form of residence(p<0.001). 2. Regarding the necessity of prosthesis, prosthesis was needed by 52.1 percent of the age group from 71 to 80, 44.3 percent of the women, 48.9 percent of the men, 60.0 percent of the community college graduates and 55.9 percent who rent a house on a deposit or monthly basis. But there was no statistically significant gap among the groups. 3. As for the necessity of oral health education, the necessity of it was absolutely supported by 89.7 percent of the 66-70 age group, 76.0 percent of the women, 87.2 percent of the men, 95.3 percent of the middle school graduates and 87.7 percent of the house owners. Their age(p<.0.01), gender(p<0.05) education(p<0.05) and form of residence(p<0.01) made a statistically significant difference to that. 4. Concerning oral health education experience, 79.3 percent of the high school graduates and 79.8 percent of the house owners had never received oral health education, and that experience statistically significantly varied with education(p<0.001) and form of residence (p<0.001). 5. As to the biggest reason for oral health care, 50.0 percent found it necessary to take care of their teeth to ensure their own perpetual oral health, and 33.7 percent felt the need for that because they had a toothache. The above-mentioned findings indicated that the elderly people were definitely in want of oral health education. Dental hygienists in public dental clinics should serve as dental health educators to address their needs, and regular oral health care programs should be prepared to spread awareness about the importance of oral health among elderly locals.