Oral Care Assistance at Geriatric Homes in the County of Västerbotten, Sweden

The elderly population in Sweden is growing and as a result of that, society is facing different types of challenges. Oral hygiene is important for preventing oral disease but also for the general health (GH). A goal for the Swedish dental society is that every inhabitant should have an equal right to dental-care and oral health (OH) under the same conditions. This is not only a challenge for dental staff but also for medical and healthcare personnel. Our hypothesis is that nursing staff do not possess the education needed regarding oral hygiene, especially not in relation to GH. The opinions regarding support for nursing staff differ between nursing staff and managers. This study was conducted through questionnaire interviews with managers and nursing staff at geriatric homes in three municipalities in the county of Västerbotten. Questions were asked about education and routines, performance of oral care, and OH linked to GH. Response frequencies were compared between municipalities, professions, and response options. A significant lower part (p <0.001) of nursing staff found that non-existing oral care could cause suffering in the form of general disease than in the form of oral disease. The opinion differs between managers and staff in questions about established routines (p <0.05). This study indicates that knowledge about relationships between oral and general health might be inadequate and that education is both wanted and needed among nursing staff. More extensive studies, and studies about how dental professions could support nursing staff in a better way is desirable.