Severity of Psychosocial Impact of Oral Diseases among Adult Receiving Treatment in University Health Centre, Malaysia

Abstract

Oral conditions had a significant negative impact on physical and psychosocial dimensions of individuals, which limit their daily activities,
affecting quality of life, loss of concentration, tiredness and poor performance, social, economic and emotional aspects as well. The objective of
this study is to measure the severity of the psychosocial impact of oral diseases among adult population receiving treatment in University Health
Centre according to socio-demographic factors. Cross sectional study was conducted using the OHIP-14 validated for Malaysian population (SOHIP
(M)), using English and Malay language developed by Saub et al (2005) among adult receiving treatment in university health center. 398
respondents participated (female 272 and male 126) with majority are undergraduate students, and age group of 18-34 years. 91.2 % were having
dental problems 1-3 times in the past 12 months. Psychological Discomfort dimension was the most affected followed by Physical Pain and
Functional Limitation, while the lowest is Social Disability. No significant difference of the severity of oral diseases between gender and age
group, while Supporting staffs had more severe impact of oral diseases compared to lecturers and patients that had 4-10 times frequency of
dental problems for the past 12 months had more severe impact of oral diseases than patients’ that had 1-3 times dental problems. The mean
score of S-OHIP (M), of 19.46 was higher compared to other studies, should be noted with concern as it shows that oral diseases had
significantly impacting psychosocial wellbeing of the respondents.