Wemyss Callum, Abdulsalam Ahmed, Beaton Laura, Perry Kirsten, Scott Claire, Stirling Douglas, West Michele
NHS Education for Scotland, Frankland Building, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK.
School of Dentistry, University of Dundee, Small's Wynd, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK.
BMC Oral Health. 2024 Dec 26;24(1):1554. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-05203-8.
Estimates suggest that one in two people will experience cancer in their lifetime. Cancer and the treatment of cancer can have several impacts on oral health. It is therefore important that dental teams are supported in managing this group of patients especially in primary care dental settings, where most of these patients will first present to dental services. The aim of this study was to explore current practice and beliefs about managing patients with, or who have had, cancer in primary dental care settings.
Online focus groups consisting of dental professionals working in primary care dental settings in Scotland, were conducted. Areas explored included cancer types seen, perceived role, challenges, and areas where further support was desired. Data from focus group transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.
Four focus groups were conducted with a total of fifteen participants. Themes identified related to the types of cancers seen in primary care dental settings; communication between dental and medical teams; patient experience; mixed healthcare messages; patient engagement with their healthcare; challenges in treatment planning; apprehension about what can safety managed in primary care; and wider system factors influencing the management of patients with, or who have had, cancer. Areas where support exists but further support is desired were also identified.
Challenges appear to exist in the provision of oral healthcare for patients with, or who have had, cancer. This study has indicated several areas where further support could be targeted. The results should be validated by further research.
据估计，每两个人中就有一人在其一生中会患癌症。癌症及其治疗会对口腔健康产生多种影响。因此，支持牙科团队管理这类患者非常重要，尤其是在初级保健牙科机构，因为大多数这类患者会首先前往牙科服务机构就诊。本研究的目的是探讨在初级牙科保健机构中管理患有癌症或曾患癌症患者的当前做法和观念。
开展了由在苏格兰初级保健牙科机构工作的牙科专业人员组成的在线焦点小组。探讨的领域包括所见癌症类型、感知角色、挑战以及需要进一步支持的领域。使用主题分析法对焦点小组记录的数据进行分析。
共进行了四个焦点小组，共有15名参与者。确定的主题涉及初级保健牙科机构中所见癌症类型；牙科和医疗团队之间的沟通；患者体验；混合的医疗信息；患者对其医疗保健的参与度；治疗计划中的挑战；对初级保健中可安全管理内容的担忧；以及影响患有癌症或曾患癌症患者管理的更广泛系统因素。还确定了已存在支持但仍需要进一步支持的领域。
为患有癌症或曾患癌症的患者提供口腔医疗保健似乎存在挑战。本研究指出了几个可以提供进一步支持的领域。研究结果应通过进一步研究进行验证。
