2018 Volume 20 Issue 2 Pages 15-22
This study aimed to identify factors influencing nurses' provision of oral care. We distributed an original survey with questions about dental health and oral care practices to nurses. Subjects were asked to self-assess their nursing skills and competence using the Excellence Self-Assessment Scale for Nurses. Valid responses were obtained from 76 nurses. Analysis results showed that respondents expressed greater desire to learn about oral care if they had participated in an oral care workshop. Such nurses also tended to set aside time to study oral health and practices and discuss them with dental hygienists. In addition, nurses who held their own nursing skills in high regard were more likely to discuss oral health and dental care practices with dentists, and to have increased their knowledge of the subject area by working together with dental doctor and dental hygienists. In summary, the survey findings suggest that participation in oral health workshops and high self-assessed competency in terms of nursing skills are two important factors that influence the quality of dental care practice among nurses.
