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Status of oral health care in hospitalized children

Jo Young Blevins1

  • 1Somerset Community College, Somerset, KY, USA. jo.blevins@kctcs.edu

MCN. the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing
|February 22, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Hospitalized children receive suboptimal oral health care. Pediatric nurses need enhanced training in oral hygiene assessments, education, and referrals to improve pediatric dental health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Healthcare
  • Dental Public Health
  • Nursing Practice

Background:

  • Hospitalized children often experience a decline in oral hygiene.
  • Limited research exists on the current provision of oral healthcare in pediatric acute care settings.
  • Academic medical centers with dental schools present a unique environment to study oral healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the current level of oral health care provided to children admitted to acute care units.
  • To identify gaps in oral hygiene practices and interventions for hospitalized pediatric patients.
  • To evaluate the role of pediatric nurses in delivering oral healthcare within a children's hospital.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive research design was employed.
  • Data collection involved parent surveys and online nurse surveys.
  • A convenience sample included 49 pediatric nurses and 59 parents of hospitalized children.

Main Results:

  • Parent-reported toothbrushing frequency decreased significantly during hospitalization compared to home routines.
  • Pediatric nurses infrequently performed oral assessments, interventions, and health teaching.
  • A majority of nurses reported no documentation of dental issues or referrals, and limited oral hygiene education.

Conclusions:

  • There is a clear need to enhance oral health care for hospitalized children.
  • Pediatric nurses are crucial in identifying, managing, and preventing oral health issues.
  • Implementing standardized oral assessments, hygiene practices, and referrals is essential for improving pediatric oral health outcomes.
Abstract

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