Oral Health Status of Disabled at Commuting Welfare Facilities

Objectives: In Japan, to support community dwelling of physically/intellectually/mentally disabled people (DP), health/welfare measures promote general and oral health by improving daily habits, frameworks for medical cooperation, checkups and health-related education. By law, DP also receive support for daily and social activities, including support for work training or workplace provision at commuting welfare facilities for DP (CWFDP), in accordance to their disability level. However, while general health is important for DP, there are few reports regarding their oral health status and the need for related practice improvement at CWFDP. This study investigated how CWFDP staff perceives oral and general health of the facility users.
Methods: An original questionnaire on staff perception of DP oral health condition, implementation of oral and general health practices at the CWFDP, and cooperation with dental and medical institutions was mailed to the 467 CWFDPs in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Responses were received from 258 facilities (collection rate, 55.2%). The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test.
Results: About 75% of facilities perceived that DP oral condition and tooth brushing habits were poor. About 80% of CWFDPs implemented practices of health promotion for the DP (general and oral health checkups, etc.). However, while 35.8% of the CWFDPs included general health in the facility plans for individual support, the percentage was only 8.5% for oral health promotion. The ratio of CWFDPs, which perceived necessity to cooperate with dental clinics, was significantly increased with perception of DPs poor oral health (p<0.05), and with lack of cooperation with dental clinics (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Although most CWFDPs were aware of DP poor oral health and perceived the necessity to cooperate with dental clinics, lack of cooperation was reported by many facilities. Dental professionals and the public administration need to promote cooperation between CWFDP and dental clinics.