Development of an instrument to assess oral hygiene ability in older adults: The oral hygiene ability instrument

Evaluation of collaborative oral health care planning between older adults and personnel from public dental care and municipal care organizations: a study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled study in Sweden

BACKGROUND

Patient participation is key in person-centred care, emphasizing individual choices in treatment. Oral health, integral to overall well-being, is sometimes a neglected part of health. This intervention introduces a novel approach to strengthen person-centred care in homecare settings, employing collaborative, interprofessional teamwork and shared documentation across care organizations. This protocol outlines the design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Sweden, comparing traditional oral assessments with an interorganizational, team-based oral health care planning model facilitated by a shared digital platform for documentation. The overall aim is to evaluate a person-centred interprofessional and interorganizational model for oral health care planning supported by a digital platform to enable healthy ageing.

METHODS/DESIGN

The intervention, co-designed with older adults, academic institutions, healthcare providers in public dental care, and municipal organizations, will undergo ethical approval. The RCT will randomize older adults, dental hygienists (DHs) and nursing assistants (NAs) into two groups. The intervention group will attend a two-day workshop on a person-centred, three-step team-based model, while the control group will continue using standard procedures. Thereafter, the three-step collaborative model will be compared to standard procedures. Primary outcomes will be measured using the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG) and the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Secondary outcomes include health economic evaluations, participation rates and quality of care assessments. Qualitative studies from theoretical perspectives of change and learning based on interviews with key stakeholders will be conducted in both the test and control groups.

DISCUSSION

Taking a co-produced approach where theory and practice shape the research iteratively, a person-centred health care planning model supported by a shared digital platform for home settings is evaluated. Anticipated outcomes include improved oral assessments and a deeper understanding of effective person-centred care practices. The co-produced approach of the intervention is also expected to further develop knowledge regarding co-production within domains of healthy ageing from an oral health perspective. As such, the intervention shapes and fosters co-produced person-centred care and healthy ageing.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06310798. Registered on 13 March 2024.

Validity of the Oral Hygiene Ability Instrument (OHAI)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the validity of the newly developed Oral Hygiene Ability Instrument (OHAI), created to assess the cause of any inability of older adults to perform oral hygiene, and to revise the instrument based on the results.

BACKGROUND

Good oral hygiene is among the most important prophylactic measures for oral health. This applies especially to older adults, among whom risk factors and physical and cognitive barriers are more common and can hamper oral hygiene.

METHODS

The OHAI contains (I) an interview, (II) clinical examination, (III) observation of oral hygiene activities and a summarising part. In the study, 149 older adults in three groups participated: stroke, cognitive disorder and general dental patients. Inclusion criteria were to be ≥65 years old, have at least one tooth and to manage oral hygiene without assistance. For criterion validity, sensitivity and specificity were calculated using eight reference instruments. To determine construct validity, we used known group validity, factor analysis and Rasch analysis.

RESULTS

The criterion and construct validity of the OHAI were found to be acceptable to good. In the stroke group, balance and fine motor skills were assessed to affect oral hygiene most; in the cognitive disorder group, it was balance, coordination, spatial ability and cognitive functions. Analyses revealed that one item had no added value and that some response options were not optimal.

CONCLUSION

The OHAI proved to be valid for the group it is intended for, with only minor revisions needed, resulting in a 32-item instrument. The OHAI could be a valuable person-centred tool in prophylactic work with older adults with failing oral hygiene.

Decisional needs for older adults, home health care nurses and dental hygienists during team-based oral health assessments in ordinary home settings - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Participation by all actors involved in health planning is a prerequisite for person-centred care and healthy ageing. Understanding the multiple knowledge needs and the values that shape oral health assessments in home settings is important both to enable participation in oral health planning and to contribute to healthy ageing.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate decisional needs during oral health assessments in ordinary home settings from the perspectives of older adults, home health care nurses and dental hygienists.

METHODS

Data was collected in ordinary home settings through 24 team-based oral assessments and 39 brief, semi-structured interviews including older adults (n = 24), home health care nurses (n = 8) and dental hygienists (n = 7). Data was analysed using content analysis with a deductive approach. The analysis was guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Guide.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed that all participants considered participation in decision-making important but until now, older adults might not have participated in making decisions regarding oral health issues. The older adults considered participation important because the decisions had a strong impact on their lives, affecting their health. The professionals considered decision-making important for knowing what step to take next and to be able to follow up and evaluate previous goals and treatments. Organizational and personal barriers for shared decision-making among home health care nurses and dental hygienists were identified. Of the 24 older adults, 20 had different oral health conditions that objectively indicated the need for treatment. An initial important decision concerned whether the older adult wanted to make an appointment for dental care, and if so, how. Another decisional conflict concerned whether and how assisted oral care should be carried out.

CONCLUSION

It is important for key participants in ordinary home settings to participate in interprofessional teams in home health care. To further anchor this in theory, conceptual models for professionals from different care organizations (municipal care, dental care) need to be developed that also involve older adults as participants. Future research could bridge theory and practice by including theories of learning while exploring interorganizational oral health planning in home settings.

Evaluation of the Oral Hygiene Ability Instrument (OHAI): Test of reliability

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the reliability of the new Oral Hygiene Ability Instrument (OHAI) developed to assess the cause of any inability for older adults to manage oral hygiene self-care. Oral hygiene is an important part of oral health. The inability to manage oral hygiene, combined with other risk factors, often results in poor oral health and impaired quality of life. A reliable OHAI could benefit preventive oral health care.

METHODS

The preliminary OHAI uses 33 items in three parts: (I) interview, (II) clinical examination and (III) observation of oral hygiene activities. A total of 37 older adults participated in a test-retest study of Part I. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65 years, have at least one tooth and be able to oral hygiene self-care. The intra- and inter-rater reliability of parts II and III used films and photographs of OHAI assessments of 15 different individuals. These films/photographs were assessed twice by four dental professionals who had participated in the OHAI data collection. For statistical analyses of the reliability, per cent agreement, Krippendorff's alpha and E. Svensson's method were used.

RESULTS

The test-retest for Part I items showed acceptable-to-good agreement and no systematic disagreement. In Part II, two items showed somewhat limited reliability. Part III showed good intra- and inter-rater reliability.

CONCLUSION

The OHAI items seem stable and reliable for the intended sample, and the instrument may be a valuable tool to identify older adults at risk of impaired oral health. However, two items may need to be reformulated.

Relying on nursing staff for oral hygiene care: A qualitative interpretive description study

Nurses may not prompt or offer assistance with oral hygiene care activities to patients who do not ask for help because they appear independent in their ability to perform their oral hygiene care. That is, nurses may be inclined to preserve patient autonomy over ensuring adequate oral hygiene outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative Interpretive Description study was to explore, with older patients in post-acute settings, their perspectives and experiences with being autonomous or relying on nursing staff for oral hygiene care. Bedside interviews with 21 patients revealed that: (a) their oral hygiene had deteriorated since hospitalization; (b) nurses may not be aware of patients' oral health values or offer help unless asked; and (c) patients are generally open to being asked if they need help with oral care, being prompted to complete oral care, being asked if they have completed oral care, and having nurses ensure adequate oral care.