title: [Knowledge, attitude and behavior of institutional staff with regard to oral health in nursing homes].
abstract: The purpose of the study was to describe the attitude and behavior of the institutional staff in two nursing homes in relation to the oral health problems and to the oral health care of the residents. A questionnaire was distributed to all staff with nursing responsibilities working day-time (n = 90), and 93% returned the questionnaires. The majority of the staff were female nursing assistants below 40 years of age. Only 17% said they had had sufficient training about oral health care, and many had problems assisting the elderly, especially the most helpless residents. It was a common problem to remove and replace dentures and many of the dentate elderly resisted assistance with toothbrushing by closing the mouth. In general the staff was aware of the many oral health problems of the elderly. The majority was of the opinion that oral health care service should be the responsibility of one dentist and of the municipality. Finally half of the staff expressed that the dentists working in the municipal clinics were as qualified as the private practitioners to take responsibility for providing oral health care to the elderly.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigild
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health
vernacular_title: Plejepersonalets viden, adfaerd og holdning til tandpleje for beboere på plejehjem.