ORAL AND DENTAL CARE SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS IN INDONESIA

Abstract

Elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are susceptible to oral health problems. These issues may affect their oral health-related quality of life (OHR-QoL) such as speaking, eating, and other routines. Therefore, this type of patient needs to seek oral and dental care (ODC). This study examines the sociodemographic facets of ODC-seeking behavior among elderly DM patients in Indonesia by analyzing the 2021 Indonesia Healthcare and Social Security Agency (IHSSA) secondary dataset on first-level healthcare facility visits. This study's samples included 55,291 elderly patients aged 60 years and over, and 634,730 visits to FKTP overall. The analysis was conducted using percentages and cross-tabulations. The study finds that the proportion of ODC visits at the national level is extremely low (1.1%) and the proportion of patients who have oral health complications is likewise (6.6%). It appears that DM patients aged 60-69 (77.8%), male patients (78.6%), single patients (78%), and IHSS non-subsidy members (78.5%) are more likely to seek out ODC than their counterparts. The majority of DM patients have pulp and periapical diseases (46.5%), followed by gingival and periodontal diseases (20.3%), and dental caries (11.8%). There are also disparities among those variables on a regional level. Our study highlights the necessity of preventive action to minimize oral health problems and enhance OHR-QoL among elderly DM patients in Indonesia, by improving oral health education and regular oral examinations.