BMC Oral Health (Jun 2012)

Parental reports of the oral health-related quality of life of children with cerebral palsy

  • Abanto Jenny,
  • Carvalho Thiago S,
  • Bönecker Marcelo,
  • Ortega Adriana OL,
  • Ciamponi Ana L,
  • Raggio Daniela P

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-12-15
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
p. 15

Abstract

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Abstract Background The severity of physical and mental impairments and oral problems, as well as socioeconomic factors, may have an impact on quality of life of children with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this research was to assess the impact of impairments and oral health conditions, adjusted by socioeconomic factors, on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of children with CP using their parents as proxies. Methods Sixty children, between 6-14 years of age were selected. Their parents answered a children’s OHRQoL instrument (5 domains) which combines the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ) and Family Impact Scale (FIS). The severity of dental caries, type of CP, communication ability, gross motor function, seizures and socioeconomic conditions were assessed. Results Considering the total score of the OHRQoL instrument, only the reduction of communication ability and dental caries severity had a negative impact on the OHRQoL (p Conclusions The severity of dental caries, communication ability, and family income are conditions strongly associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL of children with CP.

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