title: Executive directors' perceptions of oral health care of aging adults in long-term care settings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate knowledge and perceptions of executive directors of long-term care facilities in a large western state regarding oral health of residents, barriers to the provision of optimal oral health care and the collaborative practice role for dental hygienists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, exploratory online survey research design was utilized. A purposive sample of executive directors of long-term care facilities in a large western state certified for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement was used. An online survey was developed to investigate perceptions and knowledge regarding oral health of long-term care residents, protocol for provision of, and barriers to optimal oral health care, and support for employment of dental hygienists in long-term care facilities. Statistics used for data analysis included frequency distributions, Spearman's rho correlation coefficient and the Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Executive directors in long-term care facilities included in the study perceived oral health as an important aspect of general health; however, a knowledge deficit was identified related to oral disease as an exacerbating factor to systemic disease. Financial concerns and low interest among residents/families were identified as major barriers to accessing care. Executive directors supported interprofessional practice of nurses working with dental hygienists to optimize oral health care of residents. No significant associations were found between demographics and facility characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of the knowledge and perceptions of executive directors providing leadership in these facilities can provide avenues to creating needed change, which can foster improvement in the oral and overall health status of long-term care residents. Support for interprofessional work of nurses and dental hygienists can open a door for innovative practice that optimizes oral health care of long-term care facility residents through the application of shared expertise.
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wintch
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: JoAnn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gurenlian
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D009909:Oral Health; D011364:Professional Practice; D014589:Utah
keywords: aging; barriers; executive directors; geriatric dentistry; long-term care; oral health; oral hygiene