title: Dimensions of oral care management in Texas hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a growing body of evidence that suggests improved oral health can help patient outcomes in hospitals. Yet there are indicators that oral care in hospitals is less than ideal. This study was conducted to quantify and qualify the dimensions of oral care in Texas  hospitals with a focus on the dental knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses and barriers to providing such care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 582 registered nurses, licensed and employed in Texas, was surveyed about oral care attitudes, practices and knowledge. Frequencies  and Spearman correlations were used to describe and analyze the data with SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-eight respondents returned surveys for a 16.8% response rate. Of these, 52% reported their nursing education did not ("minimally/not at all") prepare them for oral care  management. However, they felt oral health was important (95%), felt responsible for oral care (79%) and assessed the oral cavity of their patients (78.6%). Although they reported being "knowledgeable" or "very knowledgeable" about oral health management (67%), their  score on the knowledge questions was low (mean=51%, sd=0.132). There was not a significant correlation between the knowledge scores and education levels (ρ=0.136, p>0.05) or knowledge scores and work areas (ρ=-0.080, p>0.05). They also reported such barriers as low priority  for oral care, lack of time, no mandate and the need for more resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed that nurses experienced a disconnect between feeling responsible yet somewhat incapable and/or ill-prepared to provide adequate oral care for their patients. This suggests  a possible need for revising nurse education, hospital requirements and protocols for performing oral care and employing dental professionals in hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Dental Clinic, Children's Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Stacy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pettit
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.forename: Emet D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Farren
authors.forename: Patricia R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003729:Dental Care / Q000451:nursing*; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006292:Health Priorities; D006295:Health Resources; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors