Kaija Hiltunen1, Nele Fogelholm1,2, Riitta K T Saarela3, Päivi Mäntylä1,4,5. 1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 3. Department of Social Services and Healthcare, Oral Health Care Unit, Helsinki, Finland. 4. Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. 5. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
Abstract
AIM: To survey long-term residences' health care personnel's opinions and attitudes toward maintenance of older adults' daily oral hygiene. METHODS AND RESULTS: The survey was directed to the health care personnel of three long-term care facilities in Helsinki, Finland. We analyzed the survey responses focusing on opinions and attitudes toward older adults' daily oral hygiene. To measure this aspect, a scoring system was developed. When the analysis was based on two specific statements, 60% of responding members of health care personnel had a negative attitude toward older adults' oral hygiene. They tended to experience more refusals when assisting oral hygiene measures, more often experienced a lack of time, and were willing to get more training related to the task. CONCLUSION: The health care personnel of long-term care facilities considered older adults' oral health important. Members of the health care personnel who showed a negative attitude with our scoring system toward older adults' daily oral hygiene indicated in their questionnaire responses the need for additional training and additional time for the task.
AIM: To survey long-term residences' health care personnel's opinions and attitudes toward maintenance of older adults' daily oral hygiene. METHODS AND RESULTS: The survey was directed to the health care personnel of three long-term care facilities in Helsinki, Finland. We analyzed the survey responses focusing on opinions and attitudes toward older adults' daily oral hygiene. To measure this aspect, a scoring system was developed. When the analysis was based on two specific statements, 60% of responding members of health care personnel had a negative attitude toward older adults' oral hygiene. They tended to experience more refusals when assisting oral hygiene measures, more often experienced a lack of time, and were willing to get more training related to the task. CONCLUSION: The health care personnel of long-term care facilities considered older adults' oral health important. Members of the health care personnel who showed a negative attitude with our scoring system toward older adults' daily oral hygiene indicated in their questionnaire responses the need for additional training and additional time for the task.