Caregivers’ Perception about the Relationship between Oral Health and Overall Health in Individuals with Disability in Qatif, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Table 2
Perception of caregivers about the relationship between oral health and overall health.
Variables
Values
N
%
Health condition status
Does the person you care for suffer from any health condition?
Yes
94
50.5
No
87
46.8
Do not know
5
2.7
Type of health condition
Heart condition
21
22.3
Asthma
11
11.7
Thalassemia
3
3.2
Diabetes
12
12.8
Immunodeficiency
3
3.2
Liver disease
4
4.3
Kidney diseases
6
6.4
Anaemia/sickle cell anaemia
9
9.6
Bleeding disorder
12
12.8
Cancer
3
3.2
Allergy
11
11.7
Hypertension
14
14.9
Others
8
8.5
Is the person you care for on any medication? (n = 94)
Yes
62
66.0
No
30
31.9
Do not know
2
2.1
Health giver perception
Dental health affects overall health
Yes
155
83.3
No
18
9.7
Do not know
13
7.0
Poor dental health is linked to many serious diseases and conditions in the body
Yes
117
62.9
No
26
14.0
Do not know
43
23.1
Poor oral health and some dental procedures can affect heart health if not managed properly
Yes
91
48.9
No
26
14.0
Do not know
69
37.1
It is important to inform the dentist about any past/current health conditions, allergies, treatments, or usage of medications
Yes
163
87.6
No
6
3.2
Do not know
17
9.1
Some dental procedures need to be approved by the physician according to the patient health condition
Yes
145
78.0
No
13
7.0
Do not know
28
15.1
Continuous usage of some medication can cause oral health problems like tooth decay and inflamed gums
Yes
106
57.0
No
32
17.2
Do not know
48
25.8
Some individuals with special needs are at a higher risk of health problems related to poor oral health
Yes
112
60.2
No
18
9.7
Do not know
56
30.1
It is important the dentist team communicate with other health providers to offer the best treatment for special needs patients
