Griffiths, AW, Devi, R orcid.org/0000-0003-2834-8597, Cheetham, B et al. (8 more authors) (2021) Maintaining and improving mouth care for care home residents: a participatory research project. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 16 (5). e12394. ISSN 1748-3735
Abstract
Background
Many people residing in nursing or residential care homes (also called long-term care facilities) live with physical or cognitive difficulties. Staff working in these environments often help residents (particularly those with more advanced dementia) with their personal care needs, including maintaining mouth care and health. Poor oral health is associated with many difficulties, including increased risk of respiratory problems, pain and discomfort. Yet, concerns have been raised that staff may not have the knowledge and skills to effectively support residents with oral care and health. There is therefore an important gap between what is known about the importance of maintaining oral health (scientific evidence) and daily practice in long-term care environments.
Objectives
To work with care home staff: (1) to create a learning culture to address how to promote mouth care for residents, particularly when a resident resists support with this aspect of care; and (2) to effect mouth care practice changes (if required) using participatory and inclusive research cycles.
Methods and results
We conducted a participatory research project to address this important area of care. Four participatory research ‘cycles’ were conducted. Cycle one explored existing literature to develop accessible guidance on strategies that staff could use to support residents to maintain and improve oral care, particularly when a resident may resist such care. Cycle two built on this review to determine knowledge levels within the care team. This highlighted deficiencies in staff knowledge, skills and competence for providing mouth care and their need for training to address this. Cycle three identified evidence-based strategies to develop staff understanding and knowledge. Cycle four brought together experts from nursing, dentistry, behaviour change, systematic reviews and care homes research to develop a grant application to progress this work further.
Conclusion
This paper provides an example of the processes undertaken in a participatory research project, bringing together science and practice to improve an essential area of care.
Implications for practice
Using participatory research approaches in this setting can allow the effective translation of uncertainties in care and practice into questions that can be addressed by research, leading to meaningful outcomes for those living and working in care homes.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Griffiths, A. W., Devi, R., Cheetham, B., Heaton, L., Randle, A., Ellwood, A., Douglas, G. V. A., Csikar, J., Vinall-Collier, K., Wright, J., & Spilsbury, K. (2021). Maintaining and improving mouth care for care home residents: A participatory research project. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 16, e12394, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12394. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. |
Keywords: | care homes; long-term care facilities; mouth care; oral health; participatory research; workforce |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Dentistry (Leeds) > Applied Health and Clinical Translation (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (Leeds) > Academic Unit of Health Economics (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number Leeds Care Association Not Known |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 02 Jun 2021 13:40 |
Last Modified: | 15 Nov 2024 17:14 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/opn.12394 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:174686 |