| |
| |
| |
Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
 | |
|
| An intervention to improve the oral health of residents in an aged care facility led by nurses | | Author(s) | F A Blinkhorn, L Weingarten, L Boivin |
| Journal title | Health Education Journal, vol 71, no 4, July 2012 |
| Pages | pp 527-535 |
| Source | http://www.sagepublications.com |
| Keywords | Dental problems ; Dental services ; Mental disorder ; Residents [care homes] ; Preventative medicine ; Nurses ; Clinical surveys ; Australia. |
| Annotation | Dental services are being overstretched in many countries because of the increasing numbers of older people who have retained natural teeth and may have dentures or implants, all of which influence the way in which the oral cavity must be cared for. A major difficulty for older residents is their decreasing level of motor or cognitive functioning to adequately self-care for their mouths. Hence, the role of the nurse is crucial. However, staff shortages, time factors and lack of awareness can lead to neglect of the mouth in this population. The loss of function is often exacerbated in individuals with mental health problems. The authors consider how the oral health of residents in an aged care mental health unit in Australia can be improved through the introduction of an innovative nursing intervention. Firstly, nursing staff used focus groups to identify the main barriers to delivery of oral hygiene to residents: lack of proper equipment; no protocol in place; and lack of knowledge. Staff knowledge of oral health and hygiene was measured using a structured questionnaire before and after the intervention. A training programme was devised by a dentist, dietician and nurse working in the unit. A multidisciplinary team met on several occasions to design a suitable vehicle and process to deliver oral hygiene. Oral health examinations were conducted at baseline, 3 months and 12 months. The programme was successful in improving residents' oral health, with reductions in plaque scores, gingivitis and pocket depths. The oral hygiene protocol was positively accepted into a daily routine and the knowledge of staff in matters relating to oral health were increased. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-121005202 A |
| Classmark | BLA: L8: E: KX: LK2: QTE: 3G: 7YA |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
|
| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
| |
|
|