Oral care and stroke units.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate oral care provision reported by senior nurses in stroke care settings in Scotland.


BACKGROUND
Stroke can have adverse effects on oral care and health. Little is known about current oral care practices in stroke care settings.


METHODS
We designed a postal survey to be completed by ward managers or senior nurses. After piloting, the survey was distributed to all 71 units in Scotland, identified as providing specialist care for patients in the acute or rehabilitation stages following stroke. Pre-notification and reminder letters were circulated. Responses were anonymous.


RESULTS
All but one survey was completed and returned. Help from dental professionals was available to most units (64/70) mostly on request. Only a third of units received oral care training in the last year (23/ 70). The majority of this training was ward based (20/23). The use of oral care assessment tools and protocols was limited (16/70 and 15/70 units respectively). Not all units had access to toothbrushes, toothpaste or chlorhexidine. For patients unable to perform oral care independently, senior nurses expected the patients' teeth or dentures to be cleaned at least twice a day in 59 of 70 and 49 of 70 units respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The response rate was excellent and has provided a national overview of oral care provision for patients in stroke care settings. Access to staff training, assessments, protocols and oral hygiene material varied considerably. This information provides a valuable baseline from which to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of ward-based oral care interventions for stroke patients.
Talbot
Ana
A
Care of the Elderly Department, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
Brady
Marian
M
Furlanetto
Denise L C
DL
Frenkel
Heather
H
Williams
Brian O
BO
D000368:Aged; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000451:nursing; D012606:Scotland; D020521:Stroke / Q000451:nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires