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Oral hygiene practices and knowledge among stroke‐care nurses: A multicentre cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Ab. Malik Normaliza,
Mohamad Yatim Saari,
Hussein Norhayati,
Mohamad Hanita,
McGrath Colman
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/jocn.14241
Subject(s) - medicine , oral hygiene , stroke (engine) , hygiene , family medicine , cross sectional study , health care , nursing , dentistry , mechanical engineering , pathology , engineering , economics , economic growth
Aims and objectives To investigate oral health knowledge for stroke care and the clinical practices performed for oral hygiene care in Malaysia. Background Oral hygiene care following stroke is important as the mouth can act as a reservoir for opportunistic infections that can lead to aspirational pneumonia. Design A national cross‐sectional survey was conducted in Malaysia among public hospitals where specialist stroke rehabilitation care is provided. Methods All (16) hospitals were invited to participate, and site visits were conducted. A standardised questionnaire was employed to determine nurses' oral health knowledge for stroke care and existing clinical practices for oral hygiene care. Variations in oral health knowledge and clinical practices for oral hygiene care were examined. Results Questionnaires were completed by 806 nurses across 13 hospitals. Oral health knowledge scores varied among the nurses; their mean score was 3.7 ( SD 1.1) out of a possible 5.0. Approximately two‐thirds (63.6%, n = 513) reported that some form of “mouth cleaning” was performed for stroke patients routinely. However, only a third (38.3%, n = 309) reported to perform or assist with the clinical practice of oral hygiene care daily. Their oral health knowledge of stroke care was associated with clinical practices for oral hygiene care ( p < .001). Conclusions The clinical practice of providing oral hygiene care is less than ideal, and there are deficiencies in oral health knowledge for stroke care. Oral health knowledge was associated with clinical practice of providing oral hygiene care. This has implications for training and integrating oral hygiene care within stroke rehabilitation.