Current Status of Oral Care Provided by Psychiatric Nurses for Hospitalized Patients

Abstract

The present study aimed to clarify the actual status of oral care administered by psychiatric nurses to hospitalized patients. We investigated psychiatric nurses in the present study. A total of 129 valid responses were analysed. The results revealed that most psychiatric nurses felt the importance of oral care. Approximately 80% of psychiatric nurses self-evaluated the oral care being performed as insufficient. Approximately half self-evaluated the oral care as not conducted in collaboration with dentists. Psychiatric nurse who worked in collaboration with dentists cited ‘poor oral condition’ and ‘insufficient knowledge’ as reasons for insufficient oral care, suggesting that collaborating with dentists may lead to an awareness of insufficient oral care. Along with the enhancement of collaboration with dentists, our results suggest that psychiatric nurses need to take steps to improve the quality of oral care.