Oral Health Problems Among Flemish and Dutch Nursing Home Residents Assessed by Nondental Caregivers Using the Novel Oral Health Section for Inclusion in interRAI.
Emilie Schoebrechts, Johanna de Almeida Mello, Patricia A I Vandenbulcke, Ellen E Palmers, Hein P J van Hout, Jan De Lepeleire, Anja Declercq, Dominique Declerck, Joke Duyck
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and objectives: Oral health of older adults in nursing homes is poor, which can negatively affect general health and well-being. Most oral health problems are preventable with good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups. Caregivers can help improve residents' oral health through regular oral health assessments. The interRAI instrument used in Long-Term Care Facilities to evaluate older adults' health and well-being, has the potential to integrate oral care into general care planning. The recently optimized Oral Health Section for inclusion in the interRAI instruments (OHS-interRAI) enables nondental caregivers to identify residents requiring help with oral hygiene and/or a dental referral. This study reports the first data obtained using the OHS-interRAI, describing the oral health situation of older adults in Flemish and Dutch nursing homes.
Research design and methods: In this cross-sectional study, interRAI Long-Term Care Facilities data, including OHS-interRAI data, were collected from October 2020 to January 2023 and analyzed from 417 and 795 persons aged 65 years or older in Flemish and Dutch nursing homes, respectively.
Results: Most common oral health problems were poor oral hygiene and compromised teeth. Differences in oral health were found between Flemish and Dutch residents. Flemish residents had significantly more problems with chewing, dry mouth, oral and denture hygiene, and tongue condition than their Dutch counterparts. They also had a higher need for help with oral hygiene (19.4% vs 14.0%), and a dental referral (36.8% vs 20.9%). Older adults in Flemish nursing homes (20.3%) had significantly fewer dental check-ups than those in Dutch nursing homes (73.5%).
Discussion and implications: The use of the OHS-interRAI by nondental caregivers identified at least one-third of the residents requiring help with oral hygiene and/or a dental referral. By means of trigger algorithms (Collaborative Action Points), the OHS-interRAI enables the integration of oral care into general care planning.
期刊介绍:
Innovation in Aging, an interdisciplinary Open Access journal of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), is dedicated to publishing innovative, conceptually robust, and methodologically rigorous research focused on aging and the life course. The journal aims to present studies with the potential to significantly enhance the health, functionality, and overall well-being of older adults by translating scientific insights into practical applications. Research published in the journal spans a variety of settings, including community, clinical, and laboratory contexts, with a clear emphasis on issues that are directly pertinent to aging and the dynamics of life over time. The content of the journal mirrors the diverse research interests of GSA members and encompasses a range of study types. These include the validation of new conceptual or theoretical models, assessments of factors impacting the health and well-being of older adults, evaluations of interventions and policies, the implementation of groundbreaking research methodologies, interdisciplinary research that adapts concepts and methods from other fields to aging studies, and the use of modeling and simulations to understand factors and processes influencing aging outcomes. The journal welcomes contributions from scholars across various disciplines, such as technology, engineering, architecture, economics, business, law, political science, public policy, education, public health, social and psychological sciences, biomedical and health sciences, and the humanities and arts, reflecting a holistic approach to advancing knowledge in gerontology.