IADR Abstract Archives
New Model of Oral Healthcare for Cardiac Settings in Australia
Objectives: This study assesses the oral healthcare needs among patients in the cardiac care setting and their acceptability of receiving oral health information/advice from cardiac nurses.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of cardiac patients attending four Sydney metropolitan hospitals was undertaken in 2016. Information collected included, prevalence of dental problems, oral healthcare-seeking behaviours and their perceptions of nurses promoting oral health. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise the study findings. A cross-sectional survey of cardiac patients attending four Sydney metropolitan hospitals was undertaken in 2016-2017. Information collected included, prevalence of dental problems, oral healthcare-seeking behaviours and their perceptions of nurses promoting oral health. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise the study findings.
Results: Of the 318 patients surveyed, 77% patients reported having at least one dental problem. A large number (41.2%) had not seen a dentist in the last 12 months, and only 10.7% patients received any information regarding oral healthcare. Patients were six times more likely to have seen a dentist in the last 12 months if they had received oral health information in the cardiac setting (AOR 5.97, 95% CI: 1.91-18.74). Patients had an overall high confidence level (median: 7, IQR: 6-8, Range: 0-8) for cardiac nurses to promote oral health and were more likely to seek dental care if referred by them (median: 29, IQR: 23-29, Range: 5-35). The preferred time to receive oral health information/advice was during hospital stay (42%) and cardiac rehabilitation (31%).
Conclusions: Despite a high prevalence of self-reported dental problems many patients with cardiovascular disease have limited information about the importance of oral health and fail to seek regular dental care. Cardiac nurses are in a unique position to promote oral health and patients appear to be receptive to this intervention. A new model of care is proposed where cardiac nurses are trained to provide oral health information, risk assessment/screening and referrals to appropriate dental services.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of cardiac patients attending four Sydney metropolitan hospitals was undertaken in 2016. Information collected included, prevalence of dental problems, oral healthcare-seeking behaviours and their perceptions of nurses promoting oral health. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise the study findings. A cross-sectional survey of cardiac patients attending four Sydney metropolitan hospitals was undertaken in 2016-2017. Information collected included, prevalence of dental problems, oral healthcare-seeking behaviours and their perceptions of nurses promoting oral health. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise the study findings.
Results: Of the 318 patients surveyed, 77% patients reported having at least one dental problem. A large number (41.2%) had not seen a dentist in the last 12 months, and only 10.7% patients received any information regarding oral healthcare. Patients were six times more likely to have seen a dentist in the last 12 months if they had received oral health information in the cardiac setting (AOR 5.97, 95% CI: 1.91-18.74). Patients had an overall high confidence level (median: 7, IQR: 6-8, Range: 0-8) for cardiac nurses to promote oral health and were more likely to seek dental care if referred by them (median: 29, IQR: 23-29, Range: 5-35). The preferred time to receive oral health information/advice was during hospital stay (42%) and cardiac rehabilitation (31%).
Conclusions: Despite a high prevalence of self-reported dental problems many patients with cardiovascular disease have limited information about the importance of oral health and fail to seek regular dental care. Cardiac nurses are in a unique position to promote oral health and patients appear to be receptive to this intervention. A new model of care is proposed where cardiac nurses are trained to provide oral health information, risk assessment/screening and referrals to appropriate dental services.