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The impact of dental caries and trauma in children on family quality of life
Author(s) -
Abanto Jenny,
Paiva Saul Martins,
Raggio Daniela Prócida,
Celiberti Paula,
Aldrigui Janaína Merli,
Bönecker Marcelo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2012.00672.x
Subject(s) - medicine , poisson regression , quality of life (healthcare) , family income , low income , demography , dentistry , environmental health , population , nursing , socioeconomics , sociology , economics , economic growth
– Objectives: To assess the impact of children’s dental caries (DC) and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) on parents’ quality of life (QoL), adjusted by family income. Methods: Parents of 219 children aged 5 and 6 years answered the Family Impact Scale (FIS) on their perception of QoL and data about income. Three calibrated dentists examined the severity of DC according to decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth index, and children were categorized into: 0 = caries free; 1–5 = low severity; and ≥6 = high severity. TDI were classified into uncomplicated and complicated injuries. QoL was measured through FIS items and total score, and Poisson regression was used to associate the variables with the outcome. Results: Severity of DC showed a negative impact on the total score and subscales on parental/family activities, parental emotions and financial burden ( P < 0.001). TDI showed a negative impact on total score and in some FIS items. The multivariate‐adjusted model showed that only the increase in the severity of children’s DC (RR = 3.19; 95% CI = 2.36, 4.31; P < 0.001) was associated with a greater negative impact on parents’ QoL, while high family income was a protective factor (RR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.48, 0.95; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The severity of children’s DC has a negative impact on parents’ QoL, whereas TDI do not. A lower family income might have a negative impact on parents’ QoL.