Barriers and facilitators of oral health care experienced by nursing home staff

Lina Francina Weening-Verbree; Dr Annemarie Adriana Schuller; Sie-Long Cheung; Prof Dr Sytse Ulbe Zuidema; Prof Dr Cornelis P Van Der Schans; Dr Johannes Simon Maria Hobbelen

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.04.012

Barriers and facilitators of oral health care experienced by nursing home staff

Geriatr Nurs. 2021 Jul-Aug;42(4):799-805. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.04.012. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Authors

Lina Francina Weening-Verbree¹, Dr Annemarie Adriana Schuller², Sie-Long Cheung³, Prof Dr Sytse Ulbe Zuidema⁴, Prof Dr Cornelis P Van Der Schans⁵, Dr Johannes Simon Maria Hobbelen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Research group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Groningen, Netherlands; Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands; University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: l.f.weening-verbree@pl.hanze.nl.
² Center for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene, University Medical Center Groningen, Netherlands; University of Groningen, Groningen, Leiden, TNO, Netherlands.
³ Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Research group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Groningen, Netherlands; Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Netherlands; Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Petrus Driessenstraat 3, Groningen 9714 CA, Netherlands.
⁴ University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, Netherlands.
⁵ Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Research group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Groningen, Netherlands; Department of Health Psychology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Netherlands; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Netherlands; Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Petrus Driessenstraat 3, Groningen 9714 CA, Netherlands.
⁶ Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Research group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Groningen, Netherlands; University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands; Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Petrus Driessenstraat 3, Groningen 9714 CA, Netherlands.

PMID: 34090223
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.04.012

Abstract

Objectives to explore attitudes, perceptions, and perceived barriers to and the perceived facilitators of daily oral health care and the actual daily oral health care performances among nursing home staff. Methods A mixed methods study in 21 nursing homes was completed; a) questionnaires for nursing staff and managers; b) focus group interviews with nursing staff. Results 409 (21%) questionnaires were completed by nursing staff and 14 focus group interviews organized. Conclusions attitude was not a barrier in this study, while oral care was not performed according to guidelines. Nursing staff reported a lack of products, while toothbrushes are available. The most frequently mentioned barriers were lack of support of dental staff, oral care for clients with cognitive impairment, and a lack of education. Increasing facilitators could be; more (practical) education combined with tailored advice from internal dental staff. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? Nursing home staff, nursing home organizations/ managers and dental professionals working in nursing homes.

Keywords: Aged; Barriers; Daily oral care; Facilitators; Frailty; Geriatric; Health personnel; Nursing home staff; Older people; Oral health care.

MeSH terms

Attitude of Health Personnel*
Humans
Nursing Homes
Nursing Staff*
Oral Health
Surveys and Questionnaires