Predictors of oral health-related quality of life in patients following stroke.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the influence of socio-demographic and clinical oral health factors on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients after stroke, and to monitor OHRQoL outcomes following the provision of an in-hospital oral health intervention programme. Design: OHRQoL was measured before and after randomization and provision of oral health promotion interventions in a prospective clinical trial. Subjects: Eighty-one patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation ward. Methods: OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and Oral Health Transition Scale upon admission and 3 weeks later following provision of an oral health promotion programme. Potential factors were examined for their association with OHRQoL outcomes. Results: Lack of a regular daily brushing habit was significantly associated with 6 of 8 transition scale items (p < 0.01) at baseline, while significant improvements in OHRQoL were observed over the course of the clinical trial for all patients as a whole (p < 0.05). Conclusion: OHRQoL is compromised following stroke and may be influenced by the lack of a regular daily brushing habit during hospitalization. The early re-establishment of an oral hygiene protocol is a priority in stroke rehabilitation wards in order to improve clinical oral health and OHRQoL.