Philip Philcy, Villarosa Amy, Gopinath Anitha, Elizabeth Carolin, Norman Gift, George Ajesh
a Dental Department, Bangalore Baptist Hospital , Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore , Karnataka 560024 , India.
b Centre for Oral Health Outcomes & Research Translation (COHORT), School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, South Western Sydney Local Health District , Sydney , Australia.
Contemp Nurse. 2019 Apr-Jun;55(2-3):261-274. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2019.1647790. Epub 2019 Aug 5.
Maintaining good oral health among hospitalized individuals is essential for health outcomes and quality of life. Nurses, being the primary oral care givers require adequate knowledge, attitude and practice in this area to provide effective oral health care. However, limited studies have been undertaken to evaluate this aspect of nursing care in India. To determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of nurses regarding oral care for hospitalized patients. Cross-sectional survey. A total of 244 nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore, South India were purposively recruited for this study. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions about knowledge, attitude and practice regarding oral care. The mean oral health knowledge score was 6.74 out of maximum score of 22. Most nurses were aware of the importance of oral care among inpatients and the effect poor oral hygiene and systemic diseases have on oral health. Deficiencies in knowledge were prevalent in areas including common medications that affect oral health and regarding care of dentures. Nurses, with higher nursing qualifications and working in departments with longer length of stay had higher attitude scores. Most nurses assessed oral health needs within 24hrs of admission. However, there were inconsistencies in the oral health assessment and care protocols followed and documentation. Nurses' attitude towards oral health was positive yet their knowledge in specific aspects of care was inadequate. Their oral health practices needs improvement.
在住院患者中保持良好的口腔健康对健康结果和生活质量至关重要。护士作为主要的口腔护理提供者，在这一领域需要具备足够的知识、态度和实践能力，以提供有效的口腔保健服务。然而，在印度，针对护理工作这一方面进行评估的研究有限。本研究旨在确定护士对住院患者口腔护理的知识、态度和实践情况。采用横断面调查。本研究特意招募了印度南部班加罗尔一家三级护理医院的244名护士。通过一份结构化问卷收集数据，问卷包含关于口腔护理知识、态度和实践的封闭式和开放式问题。口腔健康知识平均得分在满分22分中为6.74分。大多数护士意识到住院患者口腔护理的重要性，以及口腔卫生不良和全身性疾病对口腔健康的影响。在影响口腔健康的常见药物和假牙护理等方面，知识欠缺普遍存在。护理资格较高且在住院时间较长科室工作的护士态度得分更高。大多数护士在患者入院24小时内评估口腔健康需求。然而，在遵循的口腔健康评估和护理方案以及记录方面存在不一致情况。护士对口腔健康的态度积极，但在特定护理方面的知识不足。他们的口腔健康实践需要改进。
