NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
5-28-2025
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation - Restricted (NYMC/Touro only) Access
Degree Name
Doctor of Public Health
Department
Public Health
First Advisor
Dr.Kenneth A. Knapp
Second Advisor
Dr.Elizabeth Drugge
Third Advisor
Dr. Parthener Pinder
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: This research investigates the relationship between vision impairment and oral health perceptions of older adults through analysis of nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2015 and 2018. The study aims to explore whether vision impairment leads to worse oral health outcomes alongside evaluating how preventive dental visits and socioeconomic conditions impact these health disparities.
Methods: The study analyzed cross-sectional data from 2,692 older adults who were 65 years or older. The study used survey-weighted bivariate analyses and logistic regression models to examine how vision impairment affects self-rated oral health while controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, marital status, household income, dental visit reasons, and health insurance status.
Results: Older adults with vision impairment had significantly lower odds of reporting good oral health (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44–0.91, p = 0.015). Preventive dental visits were strongly associated with better oral health perceptions (OR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.72–3.11, p < 0.001). Education levels and income status together with racial/ethnic background heavily affected oral health disparities because people with higher education and income reported better oral health while Non-Hispanic Whites experienced better oral health than members of other racial/ethnic groups.
Conclusion: Research demonstrates substantial oral health inequities in visually impaired populations which require specialized interventions to improve dental health education and service accessibility. Healthcare policies should focus on increasing dental service availability for people with visual impairments while encouraging routine preventive dental visits and incorporating oral health approaches into disability and aging support services.
Recommended Citation
Gill, Sumeet, "Self-Perceived Oral Health in Older Adults With Visual Impairment: Disparities And Sociodemographic Influences – An Nhanes 2015–2018 Analysis" (2025). NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations. 83.
https://touroscholar.touro.edu/nymc_students_theses/83
Keywords
Oral health, vision impairment, preventive dental care, health disparities.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
