Knowledge of nursing graduates on oral health care for older people in the long-term care

Abstract

Objectives: Oral health self-care deteriorates in older adults due to a decreasing level of cognition increasing disability and/or a reduction in manual dexterity. Older adults in hospital care or residential care therefore increasingly need assistance for oral health care. There is an increase in dentate patients entering residential care due to advances in dentistry. It is suggested therefore that nurses in aged care increasingly need advanced knowledge to care for their older dentate patients to prevent and minimize progression of oral diseases, given the impact of poor oral health on general health. The current study was conducted to investigate the oral health care knowledge of nursing graduates across Aotearoa New Zealand. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among third year nursing graduates in 18 nursing institutes in New Zealand. Oral health care knowledge and oral–systemic connection knowledge, and predictors of oral health care knowledge were investigated. Results: Total 148 students participated in the student's survey, making it 15% of 2020 graduates. The students’ survey results suggested that nursing graduates have good basic oral health knowledge, however, their knowledge of the oral–systemic disease connection and the value of an examination of the oral cavity were poor. Conclusion: The oral health care knowledge of nursing students and their ability to care for older adults relies on oral health care education in their nursing programs. A revision of curricula to improve oral health education in nursing programs is strongly recommended.