Assessment of Oral Health Quality of Life in Patients with Hematological Disorders in Saudi Arabia: Parental Perception

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the parental perception of the OHRQOL among a group of pediatric patients with hematological disorders and to assess the relationship between the oral health status of pediatric patients with hematological disorders. and their parents’ perception of their OHRQOL.
Methods: The QoL of 100 children aged (6-12 years) was assessed using (Franciscan Hospital for Children Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (FHC-OHRQOL) through questionnaire filled by their parents. Oral examination was conducted on children assessing dental caries according to WHO, the oral hygiene according to the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S).
Results: 90% of the of parents reported that their children never and rarely suffered from oral related daily problems. Also, 93% of them rated their child as excellent and good when answering section IV of the OHRQOL to assess their perceptions of their child’s oral well-being and overall QOL which not concomitant to the results of the oral examination. Also, results of the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) revealed that children rated by parents as excellent and good scores which falls into the poor oral hygiene index (poor if the score was >2).
Conclusion: The results of the study showing that parents are unaware of the severity of the child oral condition and unable to correctly relate this to daily problems affecting the child quality of life. Raising the awareness towards oral health and its effect on the QoL is essential step to enhance their OHRQoL followed by prevention, screening and early detection of oral symptoms and problems.