Status of Nursing Oral Observations Performance in Oral Care and Factors Associated with the Performance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to clarify the status of ward nurses' oral observation performance and factors associated with the performance. The data of 334 ward nurses' responses were used for the analysis. The results of the analysis showed that the rate of their observation performance of saliva and dental pain were less than half, and the status of their observation performance was different among department they belonged to. And higher age, longer length of nursing experience, and stronger collaboration with oral health professionals were significantly associated with their oral observation performance. Only a perception that “the experience of using OAG (Oral assessment guide) was effective in the observation of oral pain” in the categories of oral assessment sheet was associated with their oral observation performance although other perceptions in the categories of oral assessment and the experience of using OHAT (Oral health assessment tool) were not associated with the performance. Therefore, it is suggested that education and appropriate practice settings regarding oral care are neeed t pote tir aopriate oralobservio and oral c performnce