THE STATUS OF ORAL HEALTH BEHAVIORS AND DENTAL SERVICES IN THE KOREAN DISABLED

전국 시설이용 장애인의 구강보건의식행태에 관한 조사연구

The purposes of this study were 1) to investigate the oral health problem of the disabled according to the handicapped types, 2) to collect the empirical data for developing and establishing the oral health policies for the handicapped, and 3) to find out the major obstacles against the dental services and oral health promotion. The handicapped subjects were collected by designed cluster sampling and interviewed with structured questionnaire in order to measure the oral health knowledge and behaviors. The subjects were attending the special schools and private or public welfare institutions for crippled disorder, encephalopathy disorder, mental retardation, visual disturbance, hearing defect, and developmental disorder. Oral examination was conducted by 13 trained dentists. 1,476 of handicapped people were finally surveyed. The results were as follows; The experiences of visiting dental office during the last one year in 18~64 year-old disabled people were 48.86% in crippled disorder, 52.50% in mental retardation, 58.24% in visual disturbance, 39.29% in hearing defect, respectively. To improve this challenging situation, we should find out the obstacles against the dental service and oral hygiene maintenance by the types of handicap, and develop the oral health policies which could support and advocate the Korean disabled.