Vandenbulcke Patricia A I, de Almeida Mello Johanna, Cornette Valerie, Brabants Marijke, Schoebrechts Emilie, De Lepeleire Jan, Declercq Anja, Declerck Dominique, Duyck Joke
Department of Oral Health Sciences, Population Studies in Oral Health, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 7 Box 7001 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
LUCAS, Centre for Care Research and Consultancy, KU Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 8 Box 5310 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Int J Nurs Stud Adv. 2024 Apr 11;6:100198. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnsa.2024.100198. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Oral health is associated with general health and care dependency, but is often neglected in nursing homes. Integration of oral care into general care is necessary, but is hampered by multiple barriers at different levels. This study is part of research into the implementation of the new Oral Health Section for use within the interRAI Long-Term Care Facilities instrument, which is used to assess care needs of nursing home residents. This new Oral Health Section evaluates nine aspects of oral health and results in two Collaborative Action Points.
To identify residents' perspectives on oral health, oral care, and on the assessment of their oral health using the new Oral Health Section.
Qualitative design using in-depth interviews.
Three nursing homes.
Residents were selected using purposeful sampling in nursing homes participating in research evaluating the use of the new Oral Health Section. The selection was based on their oral status for maximum variation and on their cognitive performance score. Twenty-two residents from three Flemish nursing homes agreed to participate.
Residents' oral health was assessed using the new Oral Health Section and dental indices. In-depth interviews were conducted, including the validated short-form Oral Health Impact Profile to evaluate the impact of oral conditions on residents' well-being. The interviews were coded and analysed by three researchers and mapped into a model to understand participants' oral health behaviours.
Low Oral Health Impact Profile scores indicated a low impact of oral health issues on participants' lives. However, despite 77.3 % of the participants reporting satisfaction with their oral health, 86.4 % had poor oral hygiene and 68.2 % required referral to a dentist, suggesting a tendency to overestimate their oral health. Their oral health behaviour was determined by a lack of oral health knowledge (Capability), positive attitudes towards oral health and autonomy (Motivation), upbringing and social support (Opportunity). Participants considered assessments with the new Oral Health Section acceptable.
This study shows how older people perceive their oral health and oral healthcare. Understanding their wishes and needs will not only facilitate their involvement in their oral care, but is also likely to enable the improvement of their oral hygiene and the development of effective oral care strategies for the future. Policy makers and managers of care organisations may use these results to foster integration of oral care guidelines into care protocols within nursing homes, including collaboration with dentists and dental hygienists.
Oral health assessments with the new Oral Health Section for use within interRAI were positively perceived by nursing home residents.
口腔健康与总体健康及护理依赖相关，但在养老院中常被忽视。将口腔护理纳入常规护理很有必要，但受到不同层面的多重障碍阻碍。本研究是关于在interRAI长期护理设施工具中使用新的口腔健康章节实施情况研究的一部分，该工具用于评估养老院居民的护理需求。这个新的口腔健康章节评估口腔健康的九个方面，并产生两个协作行动要点。
了解居民对口腔健康、口腔护理以及使用新的口腔健康章节评估其口腔健康的看法。
采用深入访谈的定性设计。
三家养老院。
在参与评估新口腔健康章节使用情况研究的养老院中采用目的抽样法选取居民。选择基于其口腔状况以实现最大程度的多样性以及认知表现得分。来自三家佛兰芒养老院的22名居民同意参与。
使用新的口腔健康章节和牙科指数评估居民的口腔健康。进行深入访谈，包括经过验证的简版口腔健康影响概况，以评估口腔状况对居民幸福感的影响。三名研究人员对访谈进行编码和分析，并绘制成一个模型以了解参与者的口腔健康行为。
口腔健康影响概况得分较低表明口腔健康问题对参与者生活的影响较小。然而，尽管77.3%的参与者表示对自己的口腔健康满意，但86.4%的人口腔卫生较差，68.2%的人需要转诊至牙医处，这表明存在高估自身口腔健康的倾向。他们的口腔健康行为取决于口腔健康知识的缺乏（能力）、对口腔健康和自主性的积极态度（动机）、成长经历和社会支持（机会）。参与者认为使用新的口腔健康章节进行评估是可以接受的。
本研究展示了老年人如何看待他们的口腔健康和口腔保健。了解他们的愿望和需求不仅将促进他们参与口腔护理，还可能有助于改善他们的口腔卫生，并为未来制定有效的口腔护理策略。护理组织的政策制定者和管理者可利用这些结果，促进将口腔护理指南纳入养老院的护理协议，包括与牙医和口腔保健员的合作。
养老院居民对在interRAI中使用新的口腔健康章节进行口腔健康评估持积极看法。
