Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Cancer Survivors

Purpose: The purpose was to compare the oral health quality of life (OHRQoL) of pediatric cancer survivors with healthy controls, and to assess the OHRQoL of pediatric cancer survivors. Methods: Structured telephone interviews of child cancer survivors and their parents, with a control group of UIC outpatient children were completed. Parents provided demographic information and their assessment of the child’s health. Children completed the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP). Results: Forty-one child-parent pairs participated in each group. Sixty- three percent of the cancer survivors were female, 44% Caucasian, and 49% of families reported an annual income of less than $50,000. Excellent oral health was reported by 56% of the cancer survivor’s caregivers, and 37% by the healthy controls. Pediatric cancer survivors had lower quality of life scores than control subjects on OHRQoL (Mean1 = 64 vs Mean2 = 71, SD1 = 10, SD2 = 6, P value <.001. The differences were in Social-Emotional Well-being, School Environment and Self-Image scores. Conclusions: Even though parents were more likely to report excellent oral health in the cancer survivors, those children reported lower OHRQoL scores.