Developing a prototype for integrated dental and diabetes care: understanding needs and priorities

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Oral Health
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Oral health is often overlooked in multidisciplinary diabetes care in Australia.
• Periodontal treatment can complement medical diabetes management.
• There's a need to integrate dental care into existing diabetes services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient and staff needs at a diabetes clinic.
• To inform the development of integrated dental and diabetes care.
• To understand barriers and facilitators for oral health integration.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative and qualitative data collected from patients and staff at West Moreton Diabetes Clinic (WMDC).
• Analysis of clinical information, surveys, and dental screenings for 41 patients.
• Semi-structured interviews with 6 patients and a focus group with 7 staff members.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of patients (83%) had not seen a dentist in the past year.
• Significant unmet dental needs were identified: 84% required periodontal assessment and 46% had multiple carious lesions.
• Both patients and staff expressed strong support for integrating dental care services at the clinic.

Conclusions:

• Integrating oral health services into diabetes management is well-supported by patients and staff.
• Addressing significant unmet dental needs can be achieved through integrated care models.
• Incorporating dental screening and services within diabetes clinics can improve awareness and uptake, enhancing diabetes management.