Oral Health Needs and Expectations in a Palliative Care Unit-A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Oral Health
• Quality of Life

Background:

• Palliative care focuses on enhancing life quality for patients with life-threatening illnesses.
• Oral health is vital for overall well-being but often neglected in palliative care settings.
• This study investigates perceptions of oral health needs among patients, families, and professionals in a palliative care unit.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient, family, and healthcare professional perspectives on oral health.
• To identify the perceived need for oral health care within a palliative care unit.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing a grounded theory approach.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted in a Chilean palliative care unit.
• Data analyzed through open and axial coding to identify thematic categories.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: barriers to dental care, the role of the interdisciplinary team, oral health training needs, oral health as part of general health, and strengths in dental care.
• Interviews included 7 healthcare professionals, 4 caregivers, and 4 patients.
• Barriers to dental care and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration were prominent.

Conclusions:

• Participants acknowledged the importance of oral health for improving quality of life in palliative care.
• Integrating dental professionals into the palliative care team is essential but presents challenges.