Measuring patient-based outcomes: Is treatment satisfaction associated with oral health-related quality of life?

Objectives: To evaluate the level of association between patients' denture satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in edentate patients, and to identify the determinants of satisfaction that best predict OHRQoL. The effects of time and treatment type were also assessed. Methods: Data from 255 edentate elders who participated in a randomised clinical trial were used. OHRQoL ratings were gathered using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-20) questionnaire. The McGill Denture Satisfaction Instrument was used to assess satisfaction with treatment (mandibular conventional denture or implant overdenture). Outcomes were measured prior to treatment, then 6 and 12 months after delivery of the new prostheses. Simple linear and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to statistically analyse the relationship. Results: When the combined effect of all factors was assessed, only two variables of denture satisfaction ratings were significantly associated with OHRQoL: chewing ability (P = .005) and oral condition (P = .002). These two variables explained 46.4% of the variance in the OHIP change scores. This association varied with time, but the variables of importance remained the same. Type of treatment, gender, age and other socio-demographic variables were not significantly associated with improvement in OHRQoL once their effects were combined with denture satisfaction ratings. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, a highly positive association exists between oral health-related quality of life and denture satisfaction. Chewing ability and oral condition are the determinants of denture satisfaction best associated with OHRQoL, predicting 46.4% of its improvement following a treatment. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.