Association between subjective well-being and presence of primary care dentists in community-dwelling elderly people: A cross-sectional study

摘要

Objective The aim was to investigate the relationships between subjective well-being and the existence of primary care dentists in community-dwelling elderly people. Background Some studies have reported subjective well-being focusing on oral health, but no studies have examined the relationship between subjective well-being and primary care dentists. Methods This cross-sectional study used data from community-dwelling elderly people aged >= 70 years (n = 624). The Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS; range = 0 [low morale]-17) was used to assess subjective well-being. Additional information regarding age group, sex, medical consulting situation (ambulatory care/home care), primary care dentists, family structure, economic status, health status was collected via questionnaire. Results The average PGCMS score in ambulatory care patients (ACP) group who have primary care dentists was highest among community-dwelling elderly people. In a logistic regression model, a low PGCMS score (0-11) was independently correlated to 80-89 age group (OR = 1.70; 95% CI, 1.13-2.54; P = 0.008), >= 90 age group (OR = 3.86; 95% CI, 1.83-8.18; P < 0.001), unsatisfied for economic status (OR = 2.68; 95% CI, 1.59-4.53; P < 0.001), unsatisfied for health status (OR = 3.94; 95% CI, 2.60-5.98; P < 0.001) and having no primary care dentists (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.09-3.01; P = 0.021) in ACP group. Conclusions The subjective well-being of ACP who have primary care dentists was higher than in other people. Primary dentists contributed to the subjective well-being of elderly people.