Association between Oral Health Awareness and Outing Frequency among Elderly Women Attending a Community-Salon

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the level of oral health awareness in elderly women attending a community-salon operated by resident volunteers, and to reveal that whether oral awareness is to influence how outing frequency.

Methods: A total of 218 elderly women attending the community-salon were interviewed. The survey included items on basic attributes, ability to participate in activities, and oral health. Participants’ behaviors and their desire to go out were also examined. We conducted an analysis of covariance to clarify the association between oral health awareness and outing frequency.

Results: Our results showed that “oral health awareness” significantly affected outing frequency through factors such as “ability to participate in activities,” “number of remaining teeth,” and “self-efficacy in going out.”

Conclusion: A high degree of oral health awareness was associated with maintaining oral health, enjoying eating, and having fun through conversation. Moreover, elderly women’s ability to participate in activities was preserved, and their self-efficacy for going out provided them with an opportunity to interact with others.