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Kamil W, Kruger E, Jean G, Tennant M. Distribution of Australian dental practices in relation to residential aged care facilities: A geographic analysis. Gerodontology 2024. [PMID: 39482834 DOI: 10.1111/ger.12792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/17/2024] [Indexed: 11/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Limited access to oral health services contributes to poor oral health in institutionalised older adults. The objective of this study was to map and analyse the distribution of residential age-care facilities (RACFs) in relation to dental practices across Australia. METHODS Age-care data were sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The data were categorised according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics remoteness index in each state and territory, defined by a geographic coordinate system. The structure of remoteness area data was integrated into RACF data using a geographic information system. Buffer analysis in QGIS was employed to calculate the buffer distance surrounding RACFs by identifying dental practices relative to a measuring distance. RESULTS In total, Australia had 2718 RACFs and 7379 dental practices (both private 95.5% and public 4.5%). In all States, more than a third of metropolitan RACFs were within accessible reach of a private practice (ranging from 37% of RACFs in NSW to 55% in WA). However, proximity to public clinics was low, ranging from only 4% (WA) to 9% (QLD). More than one-fifth of metropolitan RACFs in NSW, QLD, WA and ACT (ranging from 20% to 24%) were not within accessible proximity of either a public or private dental clinic/practice. While more than 70% of RACFs in regional and remote Australia are reasonably close to dental practices, areas with inadequate access exist, with the highest percentage recorded in WA (6%). CONCLUSION Ensuring an equitable distribution of dental practices relative to RACFs is crucial in bridging the service access gap in underserved areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wisam Kamil
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Estie Kruger
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Gillian Jean
- International Research Collaborative - Oral Health and Equity, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Marc Tennant
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Ferris LJ, Ludlow K, Walker N, Georgiou A, Henry JD, Lopez Silva C, Ha DH, Stormon N, Walsh LJ, Ivanovski S, Sexton C, Silveira Schuch H, Tuffaha H, Zamora A, Pritchard L, Do LG. Modified Oral Health Assessment Tool (M-OHAT) for Residential Aged Care: A Co-Design Protocol. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:1953. [PMID: 39408133 PMCID: PMC11476239 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12191953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Older adults in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) experience disproportionate levels of poor oral health relative to other groups in the general population, affecting their physical and mental wellbeing. The Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) is a validated and widely used dental assessment tool; however, recent systematic reviews have identified shortcomings with respect to its measurement properties. Objective: The objective of this protocol is to provide a detailed overview of a multidisciplinary qualitative study that aims to (a) co-design and develop a modified OHAT for RACFs and (b) inform the development of an OHAT training package and implementation strategies. Methods: This study will utilize a co-design methodology with aged care residents, caregivers, staff members, and health professionals. The co-design workshops will: (1) investigate the barriers to and enablers of optimal oral healthcare in RACFs; and (2) co-design a modified version of the Oral Health Assessment Tool and a referral to treatment pathway that is appropriate for use in RACFs. The co-design workshops will facilitate group discussion and involve interactive activities using, for example, mind mapping and Sticky Notes. Qualitative data (transcripts and artefacts from co-design activities) will be analyzed in NVivo using an inductive codebook thematic analysis, specifically a template analysis. Conclusion: The findings of this study will inform a modified OHAT (M-OHAT), as well as future study phases regarding training and implementation strategies. It is expected that the M-OHAT will have enhanced usability and relevance to RACFs, facilitating the identification of poor oral health and timely referral to dental treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Ferris
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
- School of Business, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Kristiana Ludlow
- Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia;
| | - Nicole Walker
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Andrew Georgiou
- Centre for Health Systems & Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia;
| | - Julie D. Henry
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Claudia Lopez Silva
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Diep H. Ha
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Nicole Stormon
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Laurence J. Walsh
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Saso Ivanovski
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Christopher Sexton
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Helena Silveira Schuch
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Haitham Tuffaha
- Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Angelique Zamora
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
- School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Lyndal Pritchard
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
| | - Loc G. Do
- School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; (L.J.F.); (N.W.); (C.L.S.); (D.H.H.); (L.J.W.); (S.I.); (C.S.); (H.S.S.); (A.Z.); (L.P.)
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Rodrigues LG, Sampaio AA, da Cruz CAG, Vettore MV, Ferreira RC. A systematic review of measurement instruments for oral health assessment of older adults in long-term care facilities by nondental professionals. Gerodontology 2022; 40:148-160. [PMID: 35908227 DOI: 10.1111/ger.12648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regular oral health assessment of older adults living in Long-term Care Facilities (LTCF) can improve their oral health. AIMS This study aimed to systematically review studies describing the development of instruments employed by nondental professionals to assess the oral health of older adults in LTCF and to evaluate their measurement properties. MATERIAL & METHODS Electronic searches were conducted in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and LILACS databases. Measurement properties of the identified instruments were evaluated using the Consensus-based Standards to select health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. Studies assessing at least one measurement property (validity, reliability, or responsiveness) of instruments used to assess oral health of older adults living in LTCF by nondental professionals were considered. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) checklist was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. RESULTS Fifteen studies reporting measurement properties of seven instruments were selected. The ohr-interRAI and the OHAT were considered to have sufficient content validity, with high and moderate evidence quality, respectively. OHAT, BOHSE, and DHI showed acceptable results on reliability but with very low quality of evidence. DHI and OHSTNP also showed acceptable results for criterion validity, but, with low quality of evidence, insufficient or unclear results were observed for the remaining measurement properties. Studies evaluating the validity criteria of BOHSE and hypotheses testing of ohr-MDS were considered to have high evidence quality. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The ohr-interRAI can be provisionally recommended for use until further evidence is provided. Further methodologically rigorous studies are needed to assess the measurement properties of the existing instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aline Araújo Sampaio
- Faculty of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Mario Vianna Vettore
- Department of Health and Nursing Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
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