A qualitative study on experiences of persons with schizophrenia in oral-health-related quality of life

Abstract

Our study aimed to explore the views and experiences inoral health and oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of personswith schizophrenia (PWS) in order to expand the understanding of thefactors that either limit or facilitate their healthcare pathway, which canultimately optimize their oral health and/or OHRQoL. A qualitativestudy was conducted in France in the Côte d’Or department(530 000 in habitants) centered on PWS’s perceived meanings regardingoral health or OHRQoL, and semi-structured individual interviewswere used. A conventional content analysis approach was chosen inorder to highlight unrevealed themes. A sample of 20 PWS (12 males;8 females) with a median age was 45.8 (± 9.5) were recruited to assessviews and experiences regarding OHRQoL, which were focused onthree dimensions: an individual dimension related to experience of“oral symptoms”, a second dimension related to experience of “stressand its management”, and a third related to “Autonomy dimensionin oral health”. We showed that PWS clearly expressed their mentalrepresentations of oral health and OHRQoL. This study supports thatPWS were able to define their needs and had the ability to discusstheir oral health and OHRQoL. These finding could be used to supportspecific interventions for this population to better manage the negativeimpact of antipsychotics and help them to consult dentists on aregular basis