Identifying barriers to dental care for adults living in a care home
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying barriers to dental care for adults living with or without dementia in residential care home
IRAS ID
270327
Contact name
Samantha Glover
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 16 days
Research summary
Daily mouthcare and access to dental services can be challenging for care home residents and despite many initiatives, problems are common and widespread (PHE, 2018), contributing to poor oral health outcomes and inequalities in access to dental care among care home residents when compared to the general population (PHE, 2015).
The aim of the research is to identify the barriers and enablers to good dental care for care home residents living with or without dementia by examining pathways to routine oral hygiene, such as daily cleaning of teeth or dentures and attending the dentist. It is expected the learning from this project will inform further research therefore contributing to the body of evidence supporting the delivery of oral health promotion or preventative health messages in residential care homes. This research would cover two of the areas recommended by National Institute for Care and Clinical Excellence for further research in the guidelines for oral health for adults in care homes (NICE, 2016). The results could also inform the research question or parameters for a larger more comprehensive research project or service development plan in the future.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
19/IEC08/0047
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion