Raison H, Parsley H, Shah Z, Manangazira T D, Dailey Y
Academic Clinical Lecturer in Dental Public Health, Institute of Population Health, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Healthcare Public Health Senior Project Manager, Public Health Directorate, NHS England North West, Manchester, UK.
BDJ Open. 2025 Jan 8;11(1):3. doi: 10.1038/s41405-024-00285-6.
There is a continued increase of older dependant adults in England. Foundation Dentists (FDs) are often the dental workforce being tasked with providing dental care to dependant older adults resident in care home settings. This study explores whether FDs have the experience and confidence to deliver this.
This service evaluation aimed to explore FDs' attitudes, perceptions and experiences delivering dentistry to dependant older adults' resident in care home settings; to help inform workforce and service delivery planning.
All North West England (NW) FDs were invited to complete a semi-structured questionnaire at a regional study session. Results were analysed using descriptive and thematic analysis.
There were 93 (80.1%) respondents, with the majority aged 20-24 years old (56, 60.2%), female (57, 61.3%) and with an United Kingdom undergraduate dental degree (88, 94.6%). Most respondents had no experience in delivering care in a care home setting at either undergraduate (85, 91.4%) or FD level (84, 90.3%). Only 14 respondents (15.1%) reported confidence to deliver dentistry in a care home setting.
To deliver dental care for dependant older adults resident in care home settings, FDs require additional training and clinical support. There is a need to review the undergraduate dental curriculum and NHS postgraduate training programmes to increase knowledge and skills for this vulnerable group.
在英格兰，需要照料的老年人数量持续增加。基础牙医（FDs）常常是负责为居住在养老院的需要照料的老年人提供牙科护理的牙科工作人员。本研究探讨基础牙医是否具备提供此类护理的经验和信心。
本服务评估旨在探究基础牙医为居住在养老院的需要照料的老年人提供牙科服务时的态度、看法和经验；以协助进行劳动力和服务提供规划。
邀请了所有英格兰西北部的基础牙医在一次地区性研究会议上填写一份半结构化问卷。使用描述性分析和主题分析对结果进行分析。
有93名（80.1%）受访者，其中大多数年龄在20 - 24岁（56人，60.2%），女性（57人，61.3%），拥有英国本科牙科学位（88人，94.6%）。大多数受访者在本科阶段（85人，91.4%）或基础牙医阶段（84人，90.3%）都没有在养老院提供护理的经验。只有14名受访者（15.1%）表示有信心在养老院提供牙科服务。
为居住在养老院的需要照料的老年人提供牙科护理，基础牙医需要额外的培训和临床支持。有必要审查本科牙科课程和国民保健服务研究生培训项目，以增加针对这一弱势群体的知识和技能。
