Abstract

ALZATE-URREA, Santiago et al. Quality of life and its relation with oral health in an elderly population treated by the Medellin Public Hospital Network: the perspective of healthcare personnel. CES odontol. [online]. 2014, vol.27, n.2, pp.11-25. ISSN 0120-971X.

Abstract Introduction and objective: It is necessary to study the quality of life and its relation to oral health from different methodological and conceptual approaches. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that determine the quality of life and its relationship to oral health for the elderly consulting the Medellin Public Hospital Network based on the perspective of healthcare staff. Materials and methods: Qualitative and ethnographic study. 34 interviews with personnel providing health services (medicine, dentistry, nursing, social work and psychology) were performed in the E.S.E Metrosalud Health Center. A semi-structured script was used. Verbatim of the interviews were transcribed and a content analysis was performed according to categories that identified points of agreement, disagreement and trends in the information. Results: 5 categories were identified in the analysis: 1) The social, cultural and economic context as a determinant of quality of life and oral health in the elderly; 2) General and oral health of elderly and their vulnerability; 3) Definition of Quality of Life (QL), health related quality of life (HRQL) and oral health related quality of life (OHRQL) 4) Healthy aging: definition and conditions for the development of the concept and; 5) Proposals to improve the quality of life, health and oral health in the elderly. Conclusion: Quality of life and its relationship with oral health in the elderly is a multidimensional concept and should be analyzed not only by means of individual factors but also from the socio-economic and political context. These factors place this population in a situation of social vulnerability

Keywords : Quality of life; Health profile; Oral health; Elderly.

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