title: Oral care perspectives of professionals in nursing homes for the elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Good oral health is an important aspect of quality of life. However, a number of studies have shown that oral care for the dependent elderly is unsatisfactory. The aim was to explore in nursing homes for the elderly what professionals with different responsibilities may consider as being important aspects of well-functioning daily oral care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 23 informants from three municipalities in the region of Värmland, Sweden, were interviewed. An interview guide was used, containing some demographic and open-ended questions about individual perceptions of issues according to the study aim. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the manifest and latent analyses, six categories and three themes emerged. The categories were Key Processes, Communication, Priorities, Competence, Good Oral Health and Autonomy. The themes were Organization, Staff Approach and Staff's Views on Residents' Needs. An overall picture emerged that oral care, rather than occupying an integral position, played a peripheral role in nursing care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To improve oral care, there are opportunities to work with existing structures and clarify responsibilities and key processes. Oral care should be included in nursing work as a more highly prioritized task, and nurses' knowledge needs to be enhanced. A network of activities at all levels is needed to implement oral care in nursing care.
authors: Preventive Dentistry Department, Public Dental Health, Värmland, Sweden.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Lindqvist
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Seleskog
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Wårdh
authors: I
authors: I
authors: von Bültzingslöwen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006292:Health Priorities; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education / Q000451:nursing; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D013548:Sweden; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: dental care; dental hygienist; long-term care; nursing assistant; nursing home; oral hygiene; qualitative research; routines