Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Προαγωγή και Αγωγή της ΥγείαςLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Konstantopoulou Calliope
Supervisors info:
Αναστασία Κοσιώνη, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Οδοντιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ηρακλής Καρκαής, Καθηγητής, Οδοντιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Ιόλη Αρτοπούλου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Οδοντιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Σχεδιασμός, εφαρμογή και αξιολόγηση ενός εκπαιδευτικού προγράμματος για τη στοματική υγεία σε τυπικούς φροντιστές ηλικιωμένων που διαμένουν σε μονάδα φροντίδας: Ημι-πειραματική μελέτη
Translated title:
Design, implementation and assessment of an oral health education programme for formal caregivers in a nursing home: A quasi-randomized intervention study
Summary:
Design, implementation and assessment of an oral health education programme for formal caregivers in a nursing home: a quasi-randomized intervention study
Introduction
The older people who reside in nursing homes often face comorbidities and are at a very high risk of developing oral health problems due to the lack of self-care and limited access to the dentist. Oral health is related to general health and quality of life in older adults. The role of formal caregivers in the daily oral care of frail and functionally dependent older people is crucial.
Purpose
The purpose of the present study was the design, implementation and evaluation of an oral health education programme for formal caregivers of older people who were living in a nursing home.
Materials and Methods
This is a quasi-experimental intervention study for formal caregivers who work in the three units of a nursing home in the region of Attica. The initial sample was 74 formal caregivers (intervention group n=38 and control group n=36). A knowledge and attitude questionnaire about oral health and care had been developed by the researchers and initially completed by the caregivers. Then, an education programme about oral heath in older people with a duration of 75 minutes was applied to the intervention group. Immediately after the implementation of the intervention, the completion of the questionnaire was repeated by both the intervention and the control group. Two months after the intervention, the questionnaire was replenished by the intervention group, but only by 13 caregivers, while the education programme was applied to the control group.
Results
There was a statistically significant increase in the total score of knowledge and attitudes in the intervention group after the implementation of the education programme compared to the pre-test measurement (P<0,001), as opposed to the control group. Between the two groups post-test, the total score of knowledge and attitudes in the intervention group was higher than in the control group to a statistically significant degree (P<0,001 and P=0,017 respectively).
In the intervention group, knowledge and attitudes were maintained in the measurement recorded two months later and there was no statistically significant difference compared to the post-test measurement (P= 0,11 and P=0,21 respectively).
It was found that caregivers in the intervention group had a 91,8% greater chance of having a difference between post-test and pretest in the total knowledge score of 2 or more points compared to the control group. Finally, it was found that caregivers in the intervention group had 4,819 more points on average in the improvement of the total score of attitudes compared to the control group.
Conclusions
• In the present study, the education programme for oral health in caregivers of the residents in the nursing home seemed to be effective in improving and maintaining knowledge and attitudes. No other relevant studies have been carried out in Greece.
• Further research and oral health education programmes for caregivers who work in nursing homes are needed in order to improve their knowledge and attitudes about the residents’ oral health. Finally, oral examinations in older people should be concurrently performed in order to assess any oral health improvement after the programme’s implementation.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Oral health, Educational program, Caregivers, Nursing staff, Nursing homes, Older adults
Number of references:
129
