Improvement in oral health related quality of life among the elderly: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted to determine the impact of educational intervention based on adult learning theory on oral health related quality of life of the elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study (IRCT20120910010804N13) was performed with 92 elderly patients referred to the dental clinic of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of medical sciences. Participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The data were gathered by a questionnaire with demographic variables, variables of oral health related quality of the elderly, and variables for assessing the effectiveness of adult learning theory. Following pre-test, educational programs were conducted for the interventional group. After 1 month, the questionnaire was again administered to both groups. Next, the results of pre-test and post-test were analyzed using SPSS-23 at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: Educational intervention was significant in terms of overall oral health related quality of life and the overall effectiveness score of adult learning theory (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mean change score of three physical, psychosocial, and pain dimensions following the educational intervention (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Education based on adult learning theory is recommended for improving oral health related quality of life among the elderly. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20120910010804N13. Registered on 2018-12-16. https://www.irct.ir/trial/35239