0674 A Rehabilitative Dental Intervention in a Welfare Reform Population
S. HYDE, University of California San Francisco, USA, and J.A. WEINTRAUB, University of California San Francisco, Center to Address Disparities in Children's Oral Health, USA

The San Francisco welfare-to-work Personal Assisted Employment Services Program (PAES) implemented a novel dental component to provide rehabilitative dental care to participants. Objectives: To assess the change in the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and employment outcome following the receipt of rehabilitative dental treatment in this welfare reform population. Methods: A convenience sample of 377 participants in the PAES Dental Program received baseline oral examinations, Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaires, and treatment plans. 265 participants (70%) completed their rehabilitative dental treatment. Change scores, effect size, ANOVA, t-test, chi square, and multivariate regression were used to analyze the associations between demographic, clinical, treatment, employment, and OHRQoL variables. Results: 79% of participants exhibited improvement in their total OHIP-14 scores following dental treatment, 3% no change, and 18% deteriorated. The greatest improvement in OHRQoL occurred for those who had poor overall health (vs. excellent to fair health; p=0.01), emergency treatment urgency (vs. moderate to severe urgency; p=0.002), and were satisfied with the dental treatment received (vs. sometimes or not satisfied; p=0.0008). Moderate to large effect sizes (0.41 - 1.09) were obtained for 6 of the 7 subscales of the OHIP-14 change scores. In the regression model, higher change scores were associated with Caucasians and African Americans (p=0.0066), poor overall health (p=0.0375), greater severity of treatment urgency (p=0.0133), higher baseline OHIP-14 scores (p<0.0001), patient satisfaction with the Dental Program (p=0.001), and patient satisfaction with the resolution of their chief complaint (p=0.0028). Those who completed their dental treatment were twice as likely to achieve a favorable or neutral employment outcome (67%) than an unfavorable outcome (32%). Conclusions: Rehabilitative dental treatment improved the OHRQoL and employment outcome of this welfare reform population. Race, overall health, treatment urgency, baseline OHIP-14 scores, and patient satisfaction were associated with OHRQoL change scores. Supported by NIDCR/NIH/DHHS K16 DE00386.

Seq #85 - Clinical Trials, Tooth Whitening, Health Promotion
10:15 AM-11:30 AM, Thursday, 11 March 2004 Hawaii Convention Center Exhibit Hall 1-2

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