Maria Andersson1, Bodil Wilde-Larsson2, Mona Persenius3. 1. Department of Health Science, Karlstad University, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Karlstad, Sweden. Electronic address: maria.andersson@kau.se. 2. Department of Health Science, Karlstad University, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Karlstad, Sweden; Faculty of Public Health Studies, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway. 3. Department of Health Science, Karlstad University, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology, Karlstad, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To identify intensive care nurses' perceptions of oral care according to Coker et al.'s (2013) conceptual framework and to contribute to the knowledge base of oral care in intensive care. DESIGN/ METHODS: This was a concurrent embedded mixed-methods design, with more weight given to the quantitative part. Participants responded to the Nursing Care related to Oral Health questionnaire, including perceptions of oral care antecedents (18 items), defining attributes (17 items), and consequences (6 items) and two open-ended questions. The data were analysed with descriptive and correlation statistics and qualitative content analysis. SETTING: Intensive care nurses (n = 88) in six general intensive care units. RESULTS: Intensive care nurses perceived that an important part of nursing care was oral care, especially to intubated patients. They perceived that the nursing staff was competent in oral care skills and had access to different kinds of equipment and supplies to provide oral care. The oral cavity was inspected on a daily basis, mostly without the use of any assessment instruments. Oral care seemed to be task-oriented, and documentation of the patients' experiences of the oral care process was rare. CONCLUSIONS: The antecedents, knowledge and skills are available to provide quality oral care, but intensive care nurses seem to have difficulties translating these components into practice. Thus they might have to shift their task-oriented approach towards oral care to a more person-centred approach in order to be able to meet patients' needs.
OBJECTIVES: To identify intensive care nurses' perceptions of oral care according to Coker et al.'s (2013) conceptual framework and to contribute to the knowledge base of oral care in intensive care. DESIGN/ METHODS: This was a concurrent embedded mixed-methods design, with more weight given to the quantitative part. Participants responded to the Nursing Care related to Oral Health questionnaire, including perceptions of oral care antecedents (18 items), defining attributes (17 items), and consequences (6 items) and two open-ended questions. The data were analysed with descriptive and correlation statistics and qualitative content analysis. SETTING: Intensive care nurses (n = 88) in six general intensive care units. RESULTS: Intensive care nurses perceived that an important part of nursing care was oral care, especially to intubated patients. They perceived that the nursing staff was competent in oral care skills and had access to different kinds of equipment and supplies to provide oral care. The oral cavity was inspected on a daily basis, mostly without the use of any assessment instruments. Oral care seemed to be task-oriented, and documentation of the patients' experiences of the oral care process was rare. CONCLUSIONS: The antecedents, knowledge and skills are available to provide quality oral care, but intensive care nurses seem to have difficulties translating these components into practice. Thus they might have to shift their task-oriented approach towards oral care to a more person-centred approach in order to be able to meet patients' needs.