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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
08:47
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Nurses' knowledge of mouth care practices
Thomas Costello1, Imelda Coyne
1Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|April 17, 2008
Summary
Nurses recognize the importance of oral care but lack adequate knowledge and resources. Educational updates, better supplies, and formal assessment tools are needed to improve patient oral hygiene practices in hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Healthcare Quality
Background:
- Oral care is a crucial component of comprehensive patient management.
- Effective oral hygiene practices are essential for preventing complications and promoting patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the knowledge and practices of nurses regarding oral care.
- To identify barriers affecting the delivery of quality oral care in a hospital setting.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted among qualified nurses on medical and surgical wards.
- 43 usable questionnaires were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- 90% of nurses consider oral care important, yet knowledge gaps persist.
- Barriers include time constraints, lack of resources, and insufficient education.
- Over 70% received brief oral care education; 64% do not use assessment tools.
Conclusions:
- Oral care is undervalued by some nurses, despite its importance.
- There is a need for enhanced nurse education, improved resource availability, and consistent use of assessment tools.
- Implementing these changes can elevate the standard of oral care in hospital settings.
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