(Lack of) oral hygiene care for hospitalized elderly patients

this is a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study carried out in a university hospital, with the participation of 35 professionals from the nursing staff. Data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews, explored through thematic content analysis.

Results:

two categories emerged: The oral hygiene of hospitalized elderly patients as an extension of body care and Barriers in (lack of) care with the oral hygiene of hospitalized elderly patients, with two subcategories: The oral hygiene and dental prosthesis technique performed divergently; Care hampered by deficit of materials and human resources.

Final considerations:

this study showed weaknesses in the oral hygiene care of hospitalized elderly patients, promoting reflections on the practice informed in data and management actions, allowing recommendations of care standards for the nursing staff.

Descriptors:
Aged; Oral Hygiene; Hospitalization; Geriatric Nursing; Standard of Care

Fragments of the interviews

[Oral hygiene] is performed only in the bath, where it is more prioritized. During the day, the team forgets to perform. (ICU.N13)

Oral hygiene is performed once a day in the morning, in the bath. We can't keep it after lunch [...], because the demand is very high.(WAR.T2)

[...] care for oral hygiene is delegated to the patient or companion, and we do not supervise. During the bath, it usually happens.(WAR.N4)

[...]at bath time, whether in bed or not, there is oral hygiene. We have so much demand that we don't always guarantee it at other times.(ICU.T11)

Fragments of the interviews

Oral hygiene is performed once, which is at bath time and, depending on, [...] they have companions who sometimes bring the materials. We put chlorhexidine in the gauze and perform oral hygiene [...]. Sometimes, they remove the dental prosthesis, wrap it in paper towels, and do their own hygiene with paste and brush.(WAR.T4)

[...] I will not characterize a frequency of oral hygiene, because it is due to the need. (WAR.N1)

[...] I do oral hygiene in the morning. In the afternoon I use only water, or if I have to, I use toothpaste [...]. For the dental prosthesis, I put on a mask, put on the glove and do the hygiene, with the brush or even with soap and water. (ICU.T13)

Oral hygiene is prescribed twice a day, and then do it in the morning in the bath and at night in hygiene [...], usually using chlorhexidine. We clean the prosthesis with a brush and paste, and keep it in a transparent box next to the patients' belongings. (ICU.N22)

Fragments of the interviews

The difficulty in assisting oral hygiene is that many patients come without the necessary hygiene materials [...]. As I have many activities, I get involved in other demands, delegating oral health to nursing technicians [...]. (WAR.N8)

A difficulty for oral hygiene is lack of material. The brush and toothpaste, the family has to bring them, the hospital doesn't have. [...]another difficulty in performing oral care is due to the exhaustive routine in the unit [...] elderly people demand a lot of care. (ICU.N12)

A difficulty for oral health is lack of material. (ICU.T9)

The lack of some materials, supplies even from the hospital itself, compromises this care [...]. There is still an incipience in relation to oral care, due to the demand, for the number of patients for a nursing technician. So, we do the basics [...]. (WAR.T6)

Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem SGA Norte Quadra 603 Conj. "B" - Av. L2 Norte 70830-102 Brasília, DF, Brasil, Tel.: (55 61) 3226-0653, Fax: (55 61) 3225-4473 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: reben@abennacional.org.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Elaine de Oliveira Souza Fonseca. E-mail: eofonseca@uneb.br