Langha de Mey1,2, Ceren Çömlekçi3,4, Fione de Reuver3,4, Ineke van Waard5, Ronald van Gool5,6, Janneke F M Scheerman1,7, Berno van Meijel8,9,10. 1. Department of Health, Sports & Welfare/Cluster Paramedical Sciences, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam. 2. Faculty of Psychology & Pedagogics, VU University, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 3. Department of Health, Sports & Welfare/Cluster Dental Hygiene, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam. 4. Faculty of Preventive Dentistry, VU/ACTA University, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 5. GGz inGeest Mental Health Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 6. Cluster Nursing, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Leiden, Netherlands. 7. Faculty of Social and Preventive Dentistry, ACTA University, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 8. Research Group Mental Health Nursing, Department of Health, Sports and Welfare/Cluster Nursing, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam. 9. Department of Psychiatry, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam. 10. Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Parnassia Academy, The Hague, Netherlands.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To test (a) the effects of an educational intervention about oral hygiene on the knowledge of mental health nurses, and (b) the effects of an oral care intervention on oral health in patients with severe mental illness (SMI). DESIGN AND METHODS: We applied a pretest/posttest design to test improvements in nurses' knowledge and the oral health of SMI patients. FINDINGS: The nursing staff's knowledge increased significantly after the educational intervention. The oral health of the patients improved significantly after the oral health intervention. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Oral health of SMI patients can improve significantly with basic oral health interventions carried out by collaborating oral hygienists and mental health nurses.
PURPOSE: To test (a) the effects of an educational intervention about oral hygiene on the knowledge of mental health nurses, and (b) the effects of an oral care intervention on oral health in patients with severe mental illness (SMI). DESIGN AND METHODS: We applied a pretest/posttest design to test improvements in nurses' knowledge and the oral health of SMI patients. FINDINGS: The nursing staff's knowledge increased significantly after the educational intervention. The oral health of the patients improved significantly after the oral health intervention. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Oral health of SMI patients can improve significantly with basic oral health interventions carried out by collaborating oral hygienists and mental health nurses.