J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2022 Dec;46(4):252-259. 10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.4.252.

A suggestion of the new oral health care system for the caregivers at the long-term care facilities

• Park JA
• Han S
• Jin BH

• KMID: 2537823
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2022.46.4.252

Abstract

Objectives
This study aims to suggest ways to improve the oral care competencies of caregivers by strengthening oral care services for the elderly with mobility difficulties in long-term care facilities.
Methods
Through a web survey, 215 caregivers were invited, their actual situation was identified, and necessary educational tasks were listed. We developed 16 types of card news, two types of songs, and four types of video clips that can be used in the field for the listed educational topics. Several meetings with expert developers resulted in developing the components and design of an oral health management platform for caregivers in long-term care facilities.
Results
As a result of the web survey, many caregivers in long-term care facilities needed education or information on oral care methods, and many people felt difficulties in oral care for the elderly. About 40% of the caregivers had no experience in oral health education, and many learned how to care through unsystematic apprenticeships. Most of the education content that caregivers prioritized were brushing teeth and denture management, but there were also needs such as management of dementia and bedridden patients, non-cooperative oral care, nutrition management, and oral auxiliary products use.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this study reviewed and suggested digital platforms such as strengthening caregivers’ competency in long-term care facilities, providing customized educational information, discovering oral problems of the elderly, and reporting oral difficulties to experts.

Keyword

Caregivers; Education; Long-term care; Online systems; Oral health care

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The degree of difficulty of oral health care for the elderly in the long-term care facilities (n=215). The mean of degree of difficulty of oral health care for the elderly faced by caregivers is 6.24±2.22 (median=6; not difficult at all=1, very difficult=10). The caregivers felt that oral health care for the elderly was rather difficult.

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  Fig. 2 The most preferred topic in oral health education for caregivers in long-term care facilities (n=215).

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  Fig. 3 Schematic diagram of basic user types in the platform model.

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  Fig. 4 Key components of the platform design. (A) Summary of the platform contents. (B) An example of a toolkit for oral assessment of the elderly. (C) Example of the platform’s pop-up function. (D) Card news tab example.

Reference

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