Jp Wallace

Student focused oral health promotion in Residential Aged Care Facilities.

Abstract Objectives: A pilot oral health promotion student placement program was developed in February 2009 to provide final year Bachelor of Oral Health students with an opportunity to experience a community based aged care placement, and to provide health promotion to residents and staff within these Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF). Design: Students in the final year of the Bachelor of Oral Health, University of Newcastle were placed in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) that volunteered to participate in the program. Management at the RACF were interviewed to determine existing levels of oral health awareness and services provided, and the participating students completed pre-and post-participation surveys to determine knowledge and experience with older adults. Results: A total of 54 students participated and were placed in 17 RACF across the Central Coast area of New South Wales, Australia. Students produced oral hygiene teaching aids and a scientific poster as assessment tasks linked with the placement program, and assisted residents with their oral hygiene care. Students identified improvement in their skills and knowledge as a result of the experiences during the placement program. Conclusions: The student placement program provided a supportive teaching and learning environment where students built on and improved their communications skills and oral health knowledge pertaining to the older person.

Senior Smiles: preliminary results for a new model of oral health care utilizing the dental hygienist in residential aged care facilities.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine whether a qualified dental hygienist could improve oral health outcomes for residents living in residential aged care facilities on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. METHODS A qualified dental hygienist undertook a 24-week oral hygiene intervention in five residential aged care facilities to test the Senior Smiles, oral health model of care. The facilities were invited to take part in the research, which was funded by a grant from NSW Medicare Local, Erina. Residents were asked to consent to having oral health risk assessments, oral healthcare plans and to receiving referrals for treatment where needed. Pre- and post-intervention plaque scores were recorded for residents and P values calculated using a paired t-test. In addition, the number of residents examined, treated and referred for more complex dental care was recorded. RESULTS The statistical analysis program, SPSS, was used to conduct a paired t-test to compare pre- and post-intervention plaque scores on residents from the 5 RACFs. A statistically significant result of P < 0.0001 showed the intervention of the dental hygienist was effective in reducing plaque scores in residents across the 5 RACFs. CONCLUSION The Senior Smiles model of care provided residents with preventive oral hygiene care, referral pathways for complex dental treatment needs and established a formal management programme for ongoing oral health care within the RACFs. The Senior Smiles model of care is successful and transportable.

An assessment of the educational value of service‐learning community placements in residential aged care facilities

AIMS The aim of this study was to determine whether dental hygiene students attending residential aged care facilities (RACFs) during a placement programme gained any knowledge about the oral care of elderly patients and the RACF environment. LOCATION Aged Care Facilities on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. METHODOLOGY Final year dental hygiene students undertook a 12-week placement, one day per week, in one of 17 residential aged care facilities on the NSW Central Coast. They were asked to complete pre-placement and post-placement questionnaires, which recorded their knowledge of medical, dental and environmental issues related to older people. The placement questionnaires used five point Likert scales, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree, pre- and post-mean scores were produced for each question and P values calculated using a paired t-test. RESULTS Thirty-three students attended the placement, 26 (79%) completed both the pre- and post-placement questionnaires. Post-placement mean scores as compared to pre-placement mean scores showed significant improvement in student knowledge of medical (P < 0.05) and dental (P < 0.05) conditions specific to the older person and improvement in knowledge (P < 0.05) about the residential aged care facility environment. CONCLUSION The placement programme enhanced student knowledge across three subject categories; medical and dental conditions of the older person and the structure and services of the residential aged care environment.

Developing leaflets to give dental health advice to Aboriginal families with young children

OBJECTIVES Dental caries (decay) is a serious problem for young Aboriginal children, causing pain and stress. Treatment often involves extraction of teeth under a general anaesthetic. However, dental caries can be prevented by reducing the frequency of sugar consumption and brushing teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Such straightforward advice could be given to families by Aboriginal Health Workers who are trusted by their communities and have an existing advisory role. This paper reports on the development of dental health advice leaflets for use in Aboriginal communities. METHODS An Aboriginal reference panel was recruited to comment on dental health advice leaflets prepared by an Aboriginal graphic designer. The panel was asked to consider the design, cultural appropriateness and practicality of the leaflets. Comments were collected through email and face-to-face discussions, which were collated and the leaflets altered accordingly. RESULTS The advice from the panel resulted in greater use of pictures. For example large green ticks and red crosses highlighted healthy and unhealthy behaviours, respectively. The tooth brushing leaflet was amended to emphasise the safe storage of toothpaste in order to keep it out of reach of young children. The panel stated that all leaflets should incorporate the Aboriginal flag, and proposed that fridge magnets might be beneficial as all family members would benefit from seeing the messages every day. CONCLUSION The consultation process refined dental advice leaflets to reflect the views of an Aboriginal Reference Panel, in terms of design, cultural competence and practicality.

A qualitative study examining the preparedness of dental hygiene students for a service-learning placement in residential aged care.

Introduction: The aim of this qualitative study was to measure the effect of a specifically designed orientation re‐enactment DVD used to facilitate dental hygiene students transition from the classroom to a Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) service‐learning placement with less personal anxiety and more confidence in their role during the placement. Methodology: Final year students (n = 47) were randomly allocated to one of 17 RACFs on the NSW, Central Coast, Australia. All students were then randomly allocated to a two‐group study with the active group assigned to view the DVD prior to their placement. Students who viewed the DVD were asked not to discuss the content with students who were assigned to the control group. Post‐placement focus groups were organized, recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were collated, analysed and unitized into emergent themes. Representative quotes are presented in the results. The study was informed by 4 years of previous quantitative and qualitative process evaluation of the RACF programme. Results: Focus group discussions identified that those students who had seen the DVD reported a shorter timeframe to successfully transition from the classroom to the RACF and stated that the DVD provided them with a realistic expectation of the RACF environment and their role in the placement experience. Conclusion: The orientation DVD reduced student anxiety and improved student confidence in their role during the placement by providing a realistic orientation of the RACF environment.