Quality of Life Overview

Study Notes

Quality of Life

Quality of life (QOL) is an individuals perception of their life, based on:
- Culture
- Value systems
- Goals
- Expectations
- Standards
- Concerns
QOL is also impacted by:
- Physical Health
- Psychological State
- Personal beliefs
- Social relationships
- Environment
QOL is influenced by the "Center for Health Promotion Model" which highlights three life domains:
- Being
  - Physical being: includes physical health, hygiene, diet, exercise and grooming.
  - Psychological being: includes self-esteem, self-concept and self-control
  - Spiritual being: includes personal values, standards, and spiritual beliefs
- Belonging: refers to an individual's connection with their environment
  - Physical belonging: includes the individual's relationship with their physical environment
  - Social belonging: includes the individual connections with social environments
  - Community belonging: includes access to resources, healthcare and social services
- Becoming: refers to activities used to express oneself and achieve goals, hopes and aspirations
  - Practical becoming: daily life and domestic tasks
  - Leisure becoming: activities to promote relaxation and stress reduction
  - Growth becoming: activities to maintain or improve knowledge and skills and adapting to change
The "Center for Health Promotion Model" also states that QOL is:
- Multidimensional, dynamic and evolving
- Arises from interactions with the environment
- Based on bio-psycho-social components
- Equally applicable to those with and without disabilities
Disability does not necessarily indicate an increase or decrease in QOL, an individual may have a high or low QOL regardless of their disability.

Oral Health Quality of Life (OHRQOL)

OHRQOL is an individual's perception of their own oral health
It is a multi-dimensional construct that:
- Reflects peoples comfort, eating habits, sleep quality, social interactions, self-esteem and satisfaction with their oral health
OHRQOL is about moving beyond:
- Simply counting DMFT or attachment loss
- An oral cavity only perspective
- To a patient focused perspective: taking into consideration the individual as a whole
OHRQOL is associated with:
- Functional factors
- Psychological factors
- Social factors
- Experience of pain or discomfort

Oral Health and Systemic Diseases

Oral Diseases are a threat to global health
- Oral health is an integral part of general health
- Oral diseases share common risk factors with chronic diseases such as:
  - Cardiovascular diseases
  - Obesity
  - Cancer
Approaches to improving oral health and reducing inequality should consider the:
- Interrelation of oral health and general well-being
- Individual behavior
- Physiological determinants
- Social determinants

Diseases Associated with Oral Health

Diabetes
Heart disease
Stroke
Pregnancy Issues
Osteoporosis
Respiratory Infections

Links between Oral Health and Systemic Diseases

Periodontal oral health problems, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, can worsen pre-existing systemic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.