Aro Taru, Laitala Marjo, Syrjälä Anna-Maija, Laitala Marja-Liisa, Virtanen Jorma I
a Research Unit of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland.
b Social Sciences, Faculty of Education , University of Oulu , Oulu , Finland.
Acta Odontol Scand. 2018 Aug;76(6):427-432. doi: 10.1080/00016357.2018.1425900. Epub 2018 Jan 15.
This study investigates nurses' self-reported experiences and perceptions of older people's oral health care using a qualitative method.
We interviewed 10 nurses working in geriatric home care who regularly visit and take care of older people in their homes. The interviews consisted of semi-structured questions. The interviews were then transcribed and analysed.
All nurses were aware of the connection between oral health and general health, but more detailed knowledge about oral health was lacking and confidence in oral health care practices was limited. Many of the interviewees noted the cleaning of removable dentures and problems related to them, but did not mention anything about periodontal diseases. Oral health education among the nurses was rare. The nurses reported lack of time to take care of their clients' oral health. As possible development steps, the interviewees suggested that including oral health care in the daily treatment plan would improve oral health care practices.
The nurses' lack of knowledge about oral health care and uncertainty in oral health practices among older people are major problems in daily geriatric home care. Oral health education and confidence in oral health practices should be improved in both basic and on-the-job education.
本研究采用定性方法调查护士自我报告的老年人口腔保健经历和看法。
我们采访了10名在老年家庭护理机构工作的护士，他们定期上门探访并照顾老年人。访谈包括半结构化问题。随后对访谈内容进行了转录和分析。
所有护士都意识到口腔健康与总体健康之间的联系，但缺乏更详细的口腔健康知识，且口腔保健实践的信心有限。许多受访者提到了可摘假牙的清洁及其相关问题，但未提及任何关于牙周疾病的内容。护士中的口腔健康教育很少见。护士们表示缺乏照顾客户口腔健康的时间。作为可能的改进措施，受访者建议将口腔保健纳入日常治疗计划，这将改善口腔保健实践。
护士对口腔保健知识的缺乏以及老年人在口腔健康实践中的不确定性是老年家庭护理日常工作中的主要问题。在基础教育和在职教育中都应加强口腔健康教育并增强口腔健康实践的信心。
