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Patterson-Norrie T, Ramjan L, Sousa MS, Kezhekkekara S, George A. Oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of dietitians in Australia: A national survey. Health Promot J Austr 2024. [PMID: 38192008 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM Dietitians are a well-placed profession to be providing pre-emptive oral health promotion. Despite recommendations that oral health promotion should be routinely part of dietetic practice, there is limited data informing the current practices of clinical dietitians in this area across Australia. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practices of Australian dietitians and oral health promotion. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was undertaken involving registered clinical dietitians in Australia using purposive and snowballing sampling (social media/dietetic organisations/public databases). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS A total of 149 dietitians participated in the national survey. Overall, dietitians were knowledgeable about oral health risk factors and preventative measures across general health domains. Majority of dietitians agreed that oral health can affect nutrition interventions (95.5%) and dietitians should be discussing oral health (88.0%). However, nearly half were not confident in providing counselling or education and felt that undergraduate training for oral health promotion was inadequate (78.2%). A small proportion (6.0%) of dietitians were already providing oral health promotion regularly. Key barriers included a lack of clear guidelines for practice, limited training opportunities and indistinct referral pathways. CONCLUSION Dietitians have acknowledged that oral health promotion should be incorporated into their practice. However, they are challenged by a lack of resources and training to support this in clinical practice. SO WHAT?: Capacity building dietitians to promote oral health allows opportunity for improvement in the oral health, nutritional status and quality of life of priority population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Patterson-Norrie
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lucie Ramjan
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mariana S Sousa
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- IMPACCT-Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shwetha Kezhekkekara
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ajesh George
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Patterson-Norrie T, Ramjan L, Sousa MS, George A. Oral health and individuals with a lived experience of an eating disorder: a qualitative study. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:121. [PMID: 37461052 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00841-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited evidence exists describing the impact to oral health when living with an eating disorder and the availability of information or access to oral health services. This study investigated the perceptions of individuals with a lived experience of an eating disorder specifically to understand their needs and recommendations for improving access to early intervention and oral health promotion. METHODS Using purposive sampling a total of 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants across Australia who had a lived experience of an eating disorder. A hybrid inductive and deductive approach to thematic analysis was used to construct salient themes and subthemes. RESULTS Most participants had experienced some oral health manifestation as part of their eating disorder hence, many felt quite knowledgeable on the topic. Following their eating disorder many participants felt confident in engaging with dental services, although, barriers including embarrassment, shame, and cost compromised access at times. Participants felt strongly that greater emphasis on oral health promotion during an eating disorder was important and this may be achieved by increasing the availability of resources and using trusted non-dental health professionals like dietitians. CONCLUSIONS The need for oral health promotion while experiencing an eating disorder was evident, however, dentists can often be a costly option. Non-dental health professionals like dietitians working with clients with an eating disorder may be an acceptable alternative for closing this gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Patterson-Norrie
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia.
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
| | - Lucie Ramjan
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
| | - Mariana S Sousa
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia
- IMPACCT-Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care Through Clinical Research and Translation, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Ajesh George
- Australian Centre for Integration of Oral Health (ACIOH), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool, NSW, 2170, Australia
- Translational Health Research Institute, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, Australia
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia
- South Western Sydney Local Health District, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, NSW, 1871, Australia
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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