earticle

영어

The purpose of this study was to examine any possible differences in oral dryness among elderly people according to their general characteristics in an effort to provide some information on the oral health care of the elderly. The subjects in this study were 130 senior citizens who visited senior welfare centers in the city of Mokpo. After data were gathered, the collected data were analyzed. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. The women felt more oral dryness than the men, and there were gender differences in that regard. 2. The respondents who were bereaved of their spouses and who chose the answer choice “the others” felt more oral dryness than those who had spouses. Thus, there were differences according to the form of marriage. 3. The senior citizens who lived alone felt more oral dryness than the respondents who lived with their spouses and/or children, and there were differences according to living arrangements. 4. The elderly people whose monthly living expense was 300 thousand won or less felt more oral dryness than the others. Thus, there were differences according to living expense. Given the above-mentioned findings of the study, the kind of programs that aim to improve the psychology and oral health care of the elderly should be developed in consideration of their gender, marital status, living arrangements and monthly living expense that affect their oral dryness.