A pilot study on the feasibility of training nurses to formulate multicomponent oral health interventions in a residential aged care facility

A selection of abstracts of clinically relevant papers from other journals. The abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Paul Hellyer.

Abstract

'...... private practice becomes a barrier to delivering dental care in residential settings'

Main

Deutsch A, Siegel E, Cations M et al. Gerodontology 2017; 34: 469–478.

This pilot study recognizes that alternative methods of delivery of oral health care in residential settings are needed. It also recognizes the problems of high staff turnover and lack of training in care homes.

Four nurses with no previous experience of in oral health interventions were given 12 hours of both practical and theoretical training to understand the relevance of oral hygiene, diet and dry mouth. They were taught how to carry out saliva tests and to use an oral health assessment tool. They became the oral health advocates in their setting and carried out patient assessment and testing and devised relevant, practical oral health plans. They oversaw the delivery of these plans by multiple (dentally) untrained care staff.

Personal ownership of their care plans and interventions by the advocate nurses (rather than plans devised by a visiting dentist) appeared to be a strong motivating factor in excellent compliance by the untrained staff.