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Utilisation of domiciliary dental services
1School of Clinical Dentistry, Sheffield, UK.
Gerodontology
|October 26, 1999
Summary
Undergraduate dental students gained insight into elderly patients' attitudes toward dental care and identified barriers to treatment. Many older adults accept dental problems or are unaware of available home-based dental services.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Geriatric Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Elderly populations often face unique challenges accessing dental care.
- Understanding patient attitudes and barriers is crucial for improving oral health outcomes in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance undergraduate dental students' comprehension of elderly individuals' perspectives on dentistry.
- To identify barriers preventing elderly people from seeking necessary dental treatment.
Main Methods:
- Undergraduate dental students conducted interviews with elderly individuals using a questionnaire.
- Interviews were performed in community settings and a rehabilitation unit with 161 participants (mean ages 78 and 85).
Main Results:
- The study summarized perceptions of treatment needs and domiciliary care among elderly participants.
- Data limitations prevented in-depth analysis due to unsupervised student data collection.
Conclusions:
- The educational exercise fostered student engagement and provided valuable insights into geriatric dental care barriers.
- Many elderly individuals perceive dental issues as acceptable or are unaware of domiciliary dental care options.