Couch Elizabeth, Mead Jean Marie, Walsh Margaret M
University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Int J Palliat Nurs. 2013 Jan;19(1):9-15. doi: 10.12968/ijpn.2013.19.1.9.
Systematic oral care reduces oral complications among children in paediatric palliative care (PPC), yet little is known about the oral health perceptions of PPC nursing staff. This qualitative cross-sectional study used semi-structured interviews based on phenomenography to explore PPC nursing staff's perceptions of oral health and the relationship of oral care to comfort and quality of life. A purposive sample of nine nursing staff employed at a California PPC facility participated. Five themes emerged from the analysis of the interviews: signs of oral health, reasons for oral care, adaptation of oral care on a case-by-case basis, barriers to providing oral care, and facilitators of improving oral care. The perceived importance of oral health was the underlining similarity between the themes. A need for further research in the area of oral PPC is indicated. Collaboration with dental professionals may be needed to create oral PPC guidelines that fit the complex needs of children with life-limiting illnesses.
系统的口腔护理可减少儿科姑息治疗（PPC）中儿童的口腔并发症，但对于PPC护理人员对口腔健康的认知却知之甚少。这项定性横断面研究采用基于现象学的半结构化访谈，以探讨PPC护理人员对口腔健康的认知以及口腔护理与舒适度和生活质量的关系。加利福尼亚州一家PPC机构的九名护理人员组成的目的抽样样本参与了研究。访谈分析得出了五个主题：口腔健康迹象、口腔护理原因、根据具体情况调整口腔护理、提供口腔护理的障碍以及改善口腔护理的促进因素。这些主题之间的潜在相似之处在于对口腔健康重要性的认知。研究表明，有必要在口腔PPC领域进行进一步研究。可能需要与牙科专业人员合作，制定适合患有危及生命疾病儿童复杂需求的口腔PPC指南。
