The perceptions of palliative care medical practitioners towards oral health: A descriptive qualitative study.

Villarosa, AR; Agar, M; Kong, A; Sousa, MS; Harlum, J; Parker, D; Srinivas, R; Wiltshire, J; George, A

The perceptions of palliative care medical practitioners towards oral health: A descriptive qualitative study.

Villarosa, AR Agar, M

Kong, A Sousa, MS Harlum, J Parker, D

Srinivas, R Wiltshire, J George, A

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Publisher:: SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Palliat Med, 2024, 38, (3), pp. 310-319
Issue Date:: 2024-03

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Villarosa, AR
dc.contributor.author	Agar, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6756-6119
dc.contributor.author	Kong, A
dc.contributor.author	Sousa, MS
dc.contributor.author	Harlum, J
dc.contributor.author	Parker, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2552-8613
dc.contributor.author	Srinivas, R
dc.contributor.author	Wiltshire, J
dc.contributor.author	George, A
dc.date.accessioned	2024-06-17T06:03:47Z
dc.date.available	2024-06-17T06:03:47Z
dc.date.issued	2024-03
dc.identifier.citation	Palliat Med, 2024, 38, (3), pp. 310-319
dc.identifier.issn	0269-2163
dc.identifier.issn	1477-030X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179535
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Oral health problems are common, but often overlooked, among people receiving palliative care. AIM: To better understand how oral health can be addressed in this population, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of oral health care among medical practitioners who provide palliative care to inform the development of a palliative oral health care program. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative design was adopted. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A single focus group was conducted with 18 medical practitioners at a palliative care facility in Sydney, Australia. All participants had experience providing palliative care services to clients. The focus group was audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. RESULTS: The results from the inductive thematic analysis identified four themes. The themes highlighted that participants were aware of the oral health needs of people receiving palliative care; however, they also reflected on the complexity in delivering oral health care across the healthcare settings, as well as the challenges around cost, lack of appropriate dental referral pathways, time constraints and limited awareness. Participants also provided recommendations to improve the delivery of oral health care to individuals receiving palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the provision of oral health care in this population, this study highlighted the need for oral health training across the multidisciplinary team, standardised screening assessments and referrals, a collective responsibility across the board and exploring the potential for teledentistry to support oral health care provision.
dc.format	Print
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Palliat Med
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/02692163241233974
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Gerontology
dc.subject.classification	4203 Health services and systems
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Palliative Care
dc.subject.mesh	Oral Health
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Palliative Care
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel
dc.subject.mesh	Oral Health
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Palliative Care
dc.subject.mesh	Oral Health
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel
dc.title	The perceptions of palliative care medical practitioners towards oral health: A descriptive qualitative study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	38
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/IMPACCT
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2024-06-17T06:03:45Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	38
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Oral health problems are common, but often overlooked, among people receiving palliative care. AIM: To better understand how oral health can be addressed in this population, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of oral health care among medical practitioners who provide palliative care to inform the development of a palliative oral health care program. DESIGN: A descriptive qualitative design was adopted. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A single focus group was conducted with 18 medical practitioners at a palliative care facility in Sydney, Australia. All participants had experience providing palliative care services to clients. The focus group was audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. RESULTS: The results from the inductive thematic analysis identified four themes. The themes highlighted that participants were aware of the oral health needs of people receiving palliative care; however, they also reflected on the complexity in delivering oral health care across the healthcare settings, as well as the challenges around cost, lack of appropriate dental referral pathways, time constraints and limited awareness. Participants also provided recommendations to improve the delivery of oral health care to individuals receiving palliative care. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the provision of oral health care in this population, this study highlighted the need for oral health training across the multidisciplinary team, standardised screening assessments and referrals, a collective responsibility across the board and exploring the potential for teledentistry to support oral health care provision.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179535