Table 2 Participants’ education and clinical preparation in providing oral healthcare to older people (n = 416)
Variables | n | % |
|---|---|---|
Exposure to oral healthcare for older people during practicums | ||
Yes | 332 | 79.8 |
No | 84 | 20.2 |
Exposure sites during practicums | ||
Hospital | 249 | 59.9 |
Residential aged care | 239 | 57.5 |
Independent living accommodation | 20 | 04.8 |
A client’s home | 33 | 07.9 |
Exposure to oral healthcare activities during practicums | ||
Oral health checks | 99 | 23.8 |
Making dental referral | 25 | 06.0 |
Oral healthcare planning | 35 | 08.4 |
Oral hygiene tasks | 317 | 76.2 |
Using an oral health product | 232 | 55.8 |
Oral health care education | 142 | 34.1 |
Education or training in oral healthcare of older people in Bachelor of Nursing program | ||
Yes | 242 | 58.2 |
No | 174 | 41.8 |
Hours dedicated on the topic of oral healthcare for older people | ||
< 1 h | 146 | 35.1 |
1–2 h | 80 | 19.2 |
> 3 h | 16 | 03.8 |
Type of oral health education received | ||
Both practical and theoretical | 169 | 40.6 |
Theoretical type | 43 | 10.3 |
Practical only | 30 | 07.2 |
Education about oral health care products | ||
Interdental cleaning aids | 136 | 32.7 |
Mouthwashes | 170 | 40.9 |
Saliva substitutes | 67 | 16.1 |
Water hydration | 142 | 34.1 |
Desensitising agents | 44 | 10.6 |
Lip balms | 155 | 37.2 |
Denture cleaning tablets and pastes | 164 | 39.4 |
Denture adhesive pastes | 87 | 20.9 |
Fluoride varnishes | 40 | 9.61 |
Have not learned any of the above | 24 | 5.8 |
Clinical training in oral health checks | ||
Presence and condition of natural teeth | 125 | 30.0 |
Presence and condition of dentures | 121 | 29.1 |
Condition of the lips | 145 | 34.9 |
Condition of the gums and oral tissues | 138 | 33.2 |
Condition of saliva | 80 | 19.2 |
Condition of tongue | 137 | 32.9 |
Oral pain | 105 | 25.2 |
Oral cleanliness | 161 | 38.7 |
Swallowing ability | 172 | 41.3 |
Nutritional status/risk | 159 | 38.2 |
Have not been trained in any of the above | 22 | 5.2 |
Oral healthcare education and training for older people before Bachelor of Nursing program | ||
Yes | 116 | 27.9 |
No | 300 | 72.1 |
Type of oral healthcare education and training received previously | ||
Certificate or other diploma course | 77 | 18.5 |
Work experience in older people’s care | 58 | 13.9 |
Other | 8 | 01.9 |
Participants opinion on whether current nursing curriculum prepares nurses to provide effective oral health care to older people | ||
Satisfied | 183 | 44.0 |
Unsatisfied | 233 | 56.0 |