December 2015

Volume 32, Issue 4

Listening to older adults: community consultation on a new dental service

Authors: K. Chideka C. Klass S. Dunne J.E. Gallagher
doi: 10.1922/CDH_3604Chideka06

Abstract

Background: Increased life expectancy, retention of a natural dentition often heavily restored, and increasing risks of oral disease mean that older people have particular dental needs and yet uptake of care is low. A new health and wellbeing centre in south London offering student-delivered care has been built to serve the local community. Community views could informed the planning of acceptable care for older people. Objective: To explore the views and expectations of older adults towards dental services and ascertain how a new dental centre may best provide dental care. Research design: This qualitative study used in-depth and triad interviews to explore the views of older people. Purposive sampling of local centres/groups for older adults was undertaken and all willing clients interviewed. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using Framework Methodology with emerging themes categorised according to Maxwell’s six descriptors of quality. Results: Nine sessions (five triad and four in-depth interviews) involving 17 older adults were conducted in local day centres. Barriers to dental care were largely related to fear, cost, transport, lack of perceived need and the attitude of clinicians. Outcomes related to acceptability featured highly in a dental service for older adults; the overarching principles of ‘delivering mutual benefit’ for students and older people, ‘experiencing warm humanity’ and ‘restoring dignity and worth’ were central to their views of quality care. The importance of clinicians, whether student or staff, delivering person centred care with warm humanity was dominant: comprising ‘welcoming’, ‘valuing’, ‘listening’ ‘communicating’ and ‘caring’ for older adults to enhance relationships and contributing to ‘restoring dignity and worth’. Conclusion: Community engagement identified a willingness amongst older adults to utilise dental services where mutual benefit was perceived and, importantly, there were low barriers to care and a warm humanity was exhibited. Key words: dental, older adults, access, quality, community consultation, England

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial - Local Dental Networks: Trendy or Transformational? 194-195 Download
The feasibility of using an alcohol screening tool in a UK dental setting to identify patients’ alcohol consumption 196-198 Download
Long term evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of community milk fluoridation in Bulgaria 199-203 Download
Is the value of oral health related to culture and environment, or function and aesthetics? 204-208 Download
Time trends and determinants of acute odontogenic maxillofacial infections in Lithuania: a retrospective national 2009-2013 treatment data audit 209-215 Download
Patient safety in domiciliary dental care for elderly nursing home residents in Sweden 216-220 Download
Dental anxiety and oral health in 15-year-olds: a repeated cross-sectional study over 30 years 221-225 Download
Development and evaluation of a Dental Patient Feedback on Consultation skills (DPFC) measure to enhance communication 226-230 Download
Listening to older adults: community consultation on a new dental service 231-236 Download
A retrospective audit of population service access trends for cleft lip and cleft palate patients 237-240 Download
Perceived mental stress in relation to oral health over time in middle-aged Swedish women 241-246 Download
Dental utilization disparities in a Jewish context: reasons and potential solutions 247-251 Download
Caregiver financial distress, depressive symptoms and limited social capital as barriers to children’s dental care in a midwestern county in the United States 252-256 Download

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