A Single-Item Approach to Screening Elders for Oral Health Assessment

Oral Health Assessment Tools for Elderly Adults: A Scoping Review

Purpose

The aim of this study was to synthesize the Oral Health Assessment Tool for elderly adults and determine its psychosocial properties.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review. The Arkey and O'Malley methodology was employed to conduct scoping reviews involving the exploration of both national and international databases, as well as a manual search of the reference lists of the selected studies. We focused on oral health assessment tools for elderly adults (>60 years). The review report adhered to the standards outlined in the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The study protocol was officially filed with the Open Science Framework.

Results

A total of 19 documents were included. The literature search included a time frame ranging from 1995 to 2023 and covered a diverse range of 13 countries. Of the 19 assessment tools examined, it was found that only the Oral Assessment Sheet had multidimensional characteristics, while the remaining tools were unidimensional in nature. The evaluation of oral health assessment tools was conducted across several contexts, including nursing homes, geriatric facilities, communities, and hospitals. A total of eleven studies underwent reliability testing, whereas two studies were alone validated for validity and did not undergo reliability testing. Additionally, seven studies were exclusively validated for reliability and did not undergo validity testing.

Conclusion

Multidimensional oral health assessment tools for elderly adults that integrate social and psychological aspects need to be developed and validated. It is necessary to develop oral health assessment tools based on hospitalized elderly patients to meet the oral and dental health needs of elderly patients.

Integrating Oral Health Screening Into Primary Care to Promote Dental Referrals in Maryland

BACKGROUND

Vulnerable populations are more likely to present to non-dental healthcare locations with dental issues. Oral health screening in those settings, such as primary care, is an effective way to identify individuals with unmet oral health needs and facilitate dental referrals.

OBJECTIVE

To implement and evaluate the integration of oral health screening at an outpatient transitional primary care clinic in Maryland.

METHODS

The quality improvement project occurred over 12 weeks. The project leader obtained support from institutional stakeholders, collaborated with dentistry, provided evidence-based resources, and developed referral strategies. Patients received a pre-screen at registration. Primary care providers used an oral health assessment tool (OHAT) for further screening and/or gave a dental referral.

RESULTS

Approximately 108 patients completed pre-screen: 73% had not seen dentist in the past 12 months; 12% had current oral problem or pain; 53% had no established dentist; <5% had a completed OHAT; 20% referred to existing dentist; 56% received dental resource listing.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral health disparity continues to exist among vulnerable populations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Oral screening by advanced practice nurses is an effective way to identify patients with unmet oral health needs and to promote dental referral.

Knowledge and practices of diabetes care providers in oral health care and their potential role in oral health promotion: A scoping review

AIM

Oral health complications are common in people with diabetes yet very little is reported about the oral health care provided in diabetes care setting. This study reviewed global evidence on the oral health care knowledge and practices of diabetes care providers and the role of non-dental health professionals in oral health promotion.

METHODS

A systematic search of five databases was undertaken with key search terms using a scoping review framework. Relevant studies published till October 2016 in the English language were included (n=30) and no restrictions were placed on the study design, quality or setting.

RESULTS

Most diabetes care providers are not addressing oral health care with the main barriers being time constraints and limited oral health knowledge. Diabetes educators (DEs) could engage in oral health promotion with few studies showing this model of care can translate into improved patient outcomes. However, no appropriate oral health training programs and assessment tools exist for DEs. With proper training, non-dental professionals like nurses have successfully incorporated oral healthcare in other settings.

CONCLUSIONS

DEs are well placed to promote oral health in diabetes care setting. Further research is needed to identify barriers and oral health resources to support DEs in this role.

Validação de instrumento de avaliação das condições de saúde bucal de idosos institucionalizados

Objetivou-se trazer para a realidade brasileira, via tradução e validação, o instrumento Oral Health Assessment Tool, de Chalmers et al. (2005), que propõe instrumentalizar profissionais da enfermagem a averiguarem as condições de saúde bucal de idosos institucionalizados e, em sequência, definir a necessidade de cuidados diários e de encaminhamento para realização de procedimentos odontológicos específicos. O instrumento, em inglês, foi traduzido para a língua portuguesa. Seguiram-se as etapas de tradução reversa e análise por comitê de 10 experts convidados a validar o instrumento segundo as equivalências semântica, idiomática, cultural e conceitual. Na sequência, o instrumento foi submetido à análise por 21 profissionais de enfermagem de uma instituição de longa permanência, para que manifestassem suas opiniões sobre conteúdo, apresentação, leitura/clareza e aplicação prática do instrumento. Apresenta-se aos profissionais de enfermagem uma ferramenta de diagnóstico e encaminhamento de idosos com relação às demandas de saúde bucal em instituições de longa permanência.