Pullens, M.L. (Mexx) (2019) Mondgezondheid van zelfstandig thuiswonende ouderen met dementie: Op naar een multidisciplinaire samenwerking ten behoeve van het op peil houden van de mondgezondheid van zelfstandig thuiswonende ouderen met dementie. thesis, Dentistry.
Full text available on request.Abstract
INTRODUCTION The government policy expects that home-dwelling elderly (HDE) organize their (oral) care by themselves. However, as soon as these elderly become dependent on care, oral health receives less attention compared to other health problems. As age increases the number of visits to a (general) practitioner increase, while the number of visits to a dental care professional decrease. People who suffer from dementia have an increased risk of decreased oral health. Decreased oral health is associated with negative impact on quality of life and general health. The aim of this study is to obtain information about the extent to which demented HDE (dHDE) are able to manage their own oral care. Based on the results, recommendations for maintaining good oral health of dHDE are made for dental professionals, (general) practitioners and (home) care organizations. The research question is: "How can the oral health of dHDE be maintained?" MATERIAL AND METHODS Oral questionnaires were used to determine the subjects’ degree of frailty, care-level and perception of the own dental situation and the influence of oral health on quality of life. In addition, an intra-oral screening was performed to examine the oral health. RESULTS Factors that promoted a visit to a dental professional were: used to regular visits (35%) and self-esteem (17%). Obstructive factors were: lack of pain (30%) and low expectation that a visit to a dental professional would be beneficial (24%). Oral health was influenced by: not visiting the dental professional regularly (p = .019), duration since the last visit to a dental professional (p = .010) and time since the diagnosis of dementia (p = .037). Caregivers had no influence on oral health (p > .05). 10% had recently experienced pain, 13% was unaware of the dental situation, 19% felt the need for oral treatment and participants were satisfied with their own dental situation (7.2; scale 1-10). However intra�oral screening showed that 52% needed oral treatment. DISCUSSION A limited number of participants (n = 31) were included. In addition, the oral questionnaire could mean that subjects felt the need to answer more socially desirable, compared to paper questionnaires. Unlike previous studies, a good oral health was more often observed at elderly with than without dementia. Presumably because more dHDE had recently visited a dental professional compared to elderly without dementia. CONCLUSION dHDE are insufficiently capable of organizing their own oral care. That is why it is important for dental professionals to see each dHDE often. And for (general) practitioners and (home) care organizations it is important to emphasize the importance of oral health. Recommendations have been made for (general) practitioners, (home) care organizations and dental professionals, in order to maintain the oral health of dHDE.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Tams, dr. J. and Hoeksema, dr. A.R. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Nov 2021 08:49 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Nov 2021 08:49 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2862 |
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