Projects
041 - Understanding the oral health priorities of older Australians entering aged care
- Chief Investigator A: A/Prof Mathew Lim
- Chief Investigator B: Dr Hasitha Pelenda
Introduction
The transition from independent to supported living later in life is often associated with a sense of uncertainty and apprehension. Many individuals grieve the loss of their independence and the increasing reliance on others. Like many transitions in life, it also represents a crucial period for oral health, marked by the cumulative effects of chronic disease and its management, disability and loss of independence, and ageing, many of which impact on the ability to access dental care and complete basic self-care, including oral hygiene. This qualitative study will explore the oral health concerns and needs of older Australians in this crucial stage of life, as they are being assessed and planned for the transition to residential aged care. Through the use of semi-structured interviews, we will gain insights into the mindset of older Australians in this phase of life and their priorities towards their oral health and impact on accessibility to dental care.Despite being a known marginalised population group at a vulnerable stage in their lives, there are few studies that explore the views of this population. Consequently, the results of this exploratory study will be highly impactful to inform future health service research that may assist in addressing the problems of the oral health earlier, either by influencing the design of early intervention strategies prior to this life stage, and/or to target this population earlier and establish a better baseline of oral health before entering residential aged care facilities.
Aims
1. To determine the oral health priorities of older Australians who are transitioning from independent living to dependent care in an aged care setting,
2. To understand the impact of oral health on their quality of life,
3. To explore the barriers these older Australians experience in attaining the oral health they desire, and
4. To identify what oral health supports they require prior to and during this transitional stage of life
Methodology
We plan to undertake a qualitative study of older Australians transitioning from independent living to residential aged care. Potential participants will be recruited from a transitional care planning program at a major Melbourne hospital. Participants will be invited to take part in a semi-structured interview. An interview guide, designed by the research team, will include open-ended questions that explore perspectives towards oral health and dental care and oral health-related quality of life measures. It is anticipated that each interview will take about 30-45 minutes. The projected sample size will be 10-15 participants. The interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed. The de-identified data will then be analysed using thematic analysis to identify and examine themes emerging across the participant pool. This project will require human research ethics approval.
What are the expected outcomes?
This study will represent the first Australian study to explore the views of older adults transitioning from independent living to aged care towards their oral health and dental care. As a result, it will provide crucial information to help address the oral health disparities reported by Australians in residential aged care. Specifically, expected outcomes from our study will be:
1. To describe if oral health is considered a priority for older Australians in transitional care and measure the impact of this on their quality of life, using oral health-related quality of life measures, and
2. To identify potential barriers and enablers that may be impacting on older Australians being able to achieve good oral health to inform future research aimed at addressing these through targeted interventions
