More than a mouth to clean: Case studies of oral health care in an Australian hospital.

Objective: This study aimed to explore older patients' oral health status, their opinions about oral health care and their experiences with oral health care while in hospital.

Background: Improving older adults' oral health is considered an urgent priority at both the national and international levels, especially for hospitalised older patients who have been found to have poor oral health. However, a one-size-fits-all standardised approach to oral care delivery may not be the answer.

Materials and methods: This study was an embedded, multiple-case study, integrating qualitative and quantitative data. Seven patients were recruited from a geriatric ward of an acute hospital in Australia and participated in semi-structured interviews and oral health assessments using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) in June-July 2022. Data were analysed descriptively and presented in case summaries.

Results: OHAT assessments identified oral health problems in all patients, but not all patients self-reported problems with their mouths. Each patient valued oral health care, but the reasons given varied. Patients had established, individualised oral health care routines, which they brought to hospital.

Conclusion: Clinical observations of patient's oral health status might not match the patient's own judgement of their oral health and, if not explicitly addressed, may mask the need for oral health and hygiene intervention. Assessment and care planning needs to incorporate patients' own perceptions of their oral health and existing oral health care routines. Oral health histories may provide a means of facilitating this person-centred oral health care for older patients in hospital.