York College of Pennsylvania, York, Pennsylvania
University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland.
J Dr Nurs Pract. 2020 Mar 1;13(1):42-63. doi: 10.1891/2380-9418.JDNP-D-19-00041. Epub 2020 Jan 27.
Vulnerable populations are more likely to present to non-dental healthcare locations with dental issues. Oral health screening in those settings, such as primary care, is an effective way to identify individuals with unmet oral health needs and facilitate dental referrals.
To implement and evaluate the integration of oral health screening at an outpatient transitional primary care clinic in Maryland.
The quality improvement project occurred over 12 weeks. The project leader obtained support from institutional stakeholders, collaborated with dentistry, provided evidence-based resources, and developed referral strategies. Patients received a pre-screen at registration. Primary care providers used an oral health assessment tool (OHAT) for further screening and/or gave a dental referral.
Approximately 108 patients completed pre-screen: 73% had not seen dentist in the past 12 months; 12% had current oral problem or pain; 53% had no established dentist; <5% had a completed OHAT; 20% referred to existing dentist; 56% received dental resource listing.
Oral health disparity continues to exist among vulnerable populations.
Oral screening by advanced practice nurses is an effective way to identify patients with unmet oral health needs and to promote dental referral.
弱势群体更有可能因口腔问题到非牙科医疗机构就诊。在这些场所（如初级保健机构）进行口腔健康筛查是识别口腔卫生需求未得到满足的个体并促进牙科转诊的有效方法。
在马里兰州的一家门诊过渡性初级保健诊所实施和评估口腔健康筛查的整合。
该质量改进项目历时 12 周。项目负责人获得机构利益相关者的支持，与牙科合作，提供循证资源，并制定转诊策略。患者在注册时接受预筛查。初级保健提供者使用口腔健康评估工具（OHAT）进行进一步筛查和/或进行牙科转诊。
约有 108 名患者完成了预筛查：73%的患者在过去 12 个月内未看过牙医；12%的患者有当前口腔问题或疼痛；53%的患者没有固定的牙医；<5%的患者完成了 OHAT；20%的患者转介到现有的牙医；56%的患者收到了牙科资源清单。
口腔卫生差距在弱势群体中仍然存在。
高级实践护士进行口腔筛查是识别口腔卫生需求未得到满足的患者并促进牙科转诊的有效方法。
