Psychological distress and self‐rated oral health among a convenience sample of Indigenous Australians. (11th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amarasena, Najith; Kapellas, Kostas; Brown, Alex; Skilton, Michael R.; Maple‐Brown, Louise J.; Bartold, Mark P.; O'Dea, Kerin; Celermajer, David; Slade, Gary Douglas; Jamieson, Lisa
• Is Part Of: Journal of public health dentistry. Volume 75:Number 2(2015)
• Page Start: 126
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2014-12-11
• Subjects: Dental public health -- Periodicals; 362.1976
• DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4006

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="jphd12080-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This study sought to: a) estimate the frequency of poor self‐rated oral health as assessed by a summary measure; b) compare frequency according to sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological distress factors; and (3) determine if psychological distress was associated with poor self‐rated oral health after adjusting for confounding.</p> </sec> <sec id="jphd12080-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Data were from a convenience sample of Indigenous Australian adults (<italic>n</italic> = 289) residing in Australia's Northern Territory. Poor self‐rated oral health was defined as reported experience of toothache, poor dental appearance or food avoidance in the last 12 months. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate socio‐demographic, behavioral, and psychological distress associations with poor self‐rated oral health (SROH). Effects were quantified as odds ratios (OR).</p> </sec> <sec id="jphd12080-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The frequency of poor SROH was 73.7 percent. High psychological distress, measured by a Kessler‐6 score ≥8, was experienced by 33.9 percent of participants. Poor SROH was associated with high levels of psychological distress, being older, being female, and usually visiting a dentist because of a problem. In the multivariable model, factors that were significantly associated with poor SROH after adjustment for other covariates included having a high level of psychological distress (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.25–6.00), being female (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.03–4.78), and usually visiting a dentist because of a problem (OR 3.57, 95% CI 1.89–6.76).</p> </sec> <sec id="jphd12080-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Poor self‐rated oral health and high levels of psychological distress were both highly frequent among this vulnerable population. Psychological distress was significantly associated with poor self‐rated oral health after adjustment for confounding.</p> </sec> </abstract>