title: Older people and oral health: setting a patient-centred research agenda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this pilot study was to provide the opportunity to enable older people to prioritise the research agenda to improve their own oral health.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the ageing population's views about their oral health from their perspective. Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) incorporate users' perspectives to prioritise research agendas and are based on a series of sequential steps to build consensus. This structured approach ensures their narrative and thoughts are heard and helps counter the 'top-down' medical model that can dominate healthcare services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A PSP was undertaken with four key stakeholder groups: service users, carers, third sector and specialists. Six initial questions were posed to each group prior to a facilitated discussion led by one of the research team. Collective responses where then considered by a final consensus group. The views of the different groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim and underwent thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The top three research priorities identified by the final group were to: (i) identify 'best practice' in the prevention and treatment of oral diseases for older people, (ii) identify the training needs for the dental profession and (iii) understand the key issues for older people from their perspective. Improving access to services, the importance of client appropriate information and the need for effective primary and secondary prevention were also articulated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asking older people to prioritise the research agenda proved to be a positive experience. Key issues related to improving communication and the availability of appropriate evidence-based information on primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
authors.affiliation: NWORTH Clinical Trials Unit, Bangor University, UK.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Brocklehurst
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Unit, Williams House, Manchester Science Park, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Unit, Williams House, Manchester Science Park, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldthorpe
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Unit, Williams House, Manchester Science Park, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Iain A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Pretty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D010358:Patient Participation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: co-design; elderly; oral health