2 research outputs found
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How Cognitive Impairment Affects Medication Management in Dental Settings
Mishandling medications is commonly seen in persons with dementia, which can lead to poor treatment outcome and serious complications. Whether individuals with cognitive impairment can appropriately manage dental-related medication remains unknown, raising a liability concern for dentists who fail to recognize the patients at risk for mishandling their medications. To address this concern, we conducted a study with 51 participants with various cognitive impairment to describe their ability to handle dental-related medications. After cognitive assessment, participants were asked to set up an antibiotics pill-box and use a mouthwash as instructed, and their performance were scored. Number and type of prompts given to facilitate task completion were also documented. Mishandling of dental-related medications was common in participants with cognitive impairment. As expected, participants with poor cognition needed more assistance on handling their medications. Dentists should be aware of this concern and take it into consideration when treatment plan for these individuals. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Oral Health Interest Group
Oral Health in Adult Patients Receiving Palliative Care: A Mixed Method Study
Oral disease is highly prevalent in persons receiving palliative care (PRPC). Yet, little is known about how PRPC perceive their oral health status and related treatment needs.
This mixed-method study included 49 English-speaking PRPC (age≥18) recruited from the University of Iowa Palliative Care Clinic. Participants first completed a structured review of oral symptoms, followed by an oral exam. A nested sample of 11 participants also completed a semi-structured, in-depth interview querying their perceived oral health concerns and related treatment needs. Quantitative and qualitative data was analyzed and integrated for interpretation.
Participants averaged 58.4 years. Nearly 70% had terminal cancer and 25% had advanced organ failure. Eighty-six percent of participants reported at least one oral symptom, including dry mouth (83.7%), a pain-related symptom (40.8%), or oral function difficulties (51.0%). Among the 31 dentate participants, 52% had untreated decayed/broken teeth and 33.3% had oral soft tissue lesions. Ill-fitting dentures and denture sores were common among denture users. About 40% of participants reported compromised health and/or quality of life due to oral conditions; however, the perceived impacts were modest. With the exception of painful conditions, oral treatment was not a priority for most of the participants.
Oral disease was highly prevalent in PRPC, yet its overall impact was modest. In the absence of painful symptoms, most participants reported limited desire to seek treatment for oral health conditions. However, given the serious impacts of untreated oral diseases, oral healthcare decision should not be based solely on self-reported symptoms or distress