Oral health and quality of life
The measurement quality of life (OHQoL) in oral health related research marks an important move from biomedically-dominated perspective to a patient-centred psychosocial approach. It explores of the impact of oral health from the patient´s perspective and allows more comprehensive evaluation of clinical interventions. The group studies all aspects of the impact of oral conditions on quality of life through:
- An exploration of the concept’s theoretical and methodological foundations.
- The associated social psychological factors.
- The meaning of oral health related quality of life.
- Models of change in the impact of oral health on quality of life.
- The social systemic organisation of communications about oral health and its impact on quality of life.
- Identifying oral health related interventions that improve health.
Our randomised controlled trials of a domiciliary denture service and of a reservoir biteguard intercept with our evaluative programme. They are among the first RCTs to use oral health related quality of life as the primary outcome.
The data provide a robust evidence-base for commissioners to fund domiciliary services to improve the quality of life for housebound elder people. Moreover, secondary analysis of these data, including pooling with researchers overseas and from the Adult Dental Health Survey has been used to test and develop the underlying concepts of health on which quality of life research is based.
Significant funding
- Part of this theoretical work involves understanding the relationships between clinical status and quality of life. A Malaysian Government PhD studentship is being used to explore these relationships longitudinally in teenagers.
- Sept 2005 British Orthodontic Society Foundation. Does undergoing orthodontic treatment affect the quality of life of adolescents? - A longitudinal study. PE Benson (UoShef); A Johal (QMC); N Mandall (UoManc) AC Williams (GKT); £40,201.
Staff
- Dr Sarah Baker
- Dr Phillip Benson
- Dr Jane Bradbury
- Dr Barry Gibson
- Dr Zoe Marshman
- Dr Jan Owens
- Professor Peter G Robinson
Key publications
Carr AJ, Higginson I, Robinson PG. (eds). Quality of life. BMJ Publishing, 2002.
Pearson NK, Gibson BJ, Davis DM, Gelbier S, Robinson PG. The effect of a domiciliary denture service on oral health quality of life: a randomised controlled trial. Br Dent J. 2007;203:E3
Baker SR, Pankhurst CL, Robinson PG. Testing relationships between clinical and non-clinical variables in xerostomia: A structural equation model of oral health-related quality of life. In press. Quality of Life Research
Marshman, Z. and Robinson PG (2007). Child and Adolescent Oral Health-Related Quality of Life." In press. Seminars in Orthodontics.
Baker SR, Pankhurst CL, Robinson PG. Utility of two oral health-related quality of life measures in patients with xerostomia. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2006;34:351-62.
Robinson PG, Pankhurst CL, Garrett EJ. Randomised controlled trial: Effect of a reservoir biteguard on quality of life in xerostomia. J Oral Pathol Med 2005;34:193-7.
Robinson PG, Nalweiso N, Busingye J, Whitworth J. Subjective impacts of dental caries and fluorosis in rural Ugandan children. Community Dental Health. 2005; 22:231-6.
Gregory J, Gibson B, Robinson PG. Variation and change in the meaning of oral health related quality of life: a `grounded´ systems approach. Soc Sci Med. 2005;60:1859-1868.
Carr AJ, Gibson B, Robinson PG. Measuring quality of life: Is quality of life determined by expectations or experience? Br Med J 2001;322:1240-1243.