Skip to main content

Hygiene self-care of older adults in West Virginia: effects of gender.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Wiener, RC; Wu, B; Crout, RJ; Plassman, BL; McNeil, DW; Wiener, MA; Kao, E; Caplan, DJ
Published in: Journal of dental hygiene : JDH
January 2012

This study investigated whether oral hygiene self-care behavior differs between genders in older adults in Appalachia, a geographic area with significant oral health concerns. Identify ing the practices of older adults may provide valuable information for designing interventions and improving overall oral health outcomes.As part of a larger, on-going study on cognition and oral health in later life in Appalachia, a sample of dentate, older adults without dementia aged 70 and above (n=245, 86 men and 159 women) received an oral assessment by either a dentist or dental hygienist. Psychometricians assessed cognition using a standardized battery of neuropsychological tests. They also administered the General Oral Health Assessment Index and conducted structured interviews concerning diet, oral hygiene practices, oral health, social support, income and years of education Results: Over 80% of women (n=128) and 52.3% of men (n=45) reported brushing their teeth twice daily. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted, controlling for socioeconomic status, social support (i.e., frequency of contacting friends and relatives), general oral health assessment items, number of decayed, missing and filled surfaces, plaque index and having regular dental visits. The results showed that women reported more frequent tooth brushing than their male counterparts (OR=4.04, 95% CI:1.93,8.42).Older women in West Virginia had significantly better oral hygiene practices than older men, particularly regarding tooth brushing. Interventions are needed to improve older men's dental hygiene behaviors to improve overall oral health outcomes.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of dental hygiene : JDH

EISSN

1553-0205

ISSN

1043-254X

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

86

Issue

3

Start / End Page

231 / 238

Related Subject Headings

  • West Virginia
  • Toothbrushing
  • Social Support
  • Social Class
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Care
  • Periodontal Index
  • Oral Hygiene
  • Oral Health
  • Mouthwashes
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Wiener, R. C., Wu, B., Crout, R. J., Plassman, B. L., McNeil, D. W., Wiener, M. A., … Caplan, D. J. (2012). Hygiene self-care of older adults in West Virginia: effects of gender. Journal of Dental Hygiene : JDH, 86(3), 231–238.
Wiener, R Constance, Bei Wu, Richard J. Crout, Brenda L. Plassman, Daniel W. McNeil, Michael A. Wiener, Elizabeth Kao, and Daniel J. Caplan. “Hygiene self-care of older adults in West Virginia: effects of gender.Journal of Dental Hygiene : JDH 86, no. 3 (January 2012): 231–38.
Wiener RC, Wu B, Crout RJ, Plassman BL, McNeil DW, Wiener MA, et al. Hygiene self-care of older adults in West Virginia: effects of gender. Journal of dental hygiene : JDH. 2012 Jan;86(3):231–8.
Wiener, R. Constance, et al. “Hygiene self-care of older adults in West Virginia: effects of gender.Journal of Dental Hygiene : JDH, vol. 86, no. 3, Jan. 2012, pp. 231–38.
Wiener RC, Wu B, Crout RJ, Plassman BL, McNeil DW, Wiener MA, Kao E, Caplan DJ. Hygiene self-care of older adults in West Virginia: effects of gender. Journal of dental hygiene : JDH. 2012 Jan;86(3):231–238.

Published In

Journal of dental hygiene : JDH

EISSN

1553-0205

ISSN

1043-254X

Publication Date

January 2012

Volume

86

Issue

3

Start / End Page

231 / 238

Related Subject Headings

  • West Virginia
  • Toothbrushing
  • Social Support
  • Social Class
  • Sex Factors
  • Self Care
  • Periodontal Index
  • Oral Hygiene
  • Oral Health
  • Mouthwashes