Needs Assessment of Oral Health Care Supplies for Dependent Older Adults in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand

Abstract

Dependent older adults suffer from a variety of oral health issues. There is shortage of information regarding availability of dental healthcare staff and financial resources to conduct home visits. This study aimed to determine the health care supplies for the dental health team conducting home visits to dependent older adults through a needs assessment survey. The samples were drawn from dental practitioners working in a government hospital in Phitsanulok by a purposive sampling method. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire that was developed as a checklist and a 5-point Likert scale. The result were reported as percentages and mean+SD values. A total of 73 dentists, 66 dental therapists, and 37 dental public health practitioners took part in this study, They were all aged 34.6+9.24 years, and 12.27% were trained in gerodontology. 71.8% of participants conducted home visits, which were accompanied by an average 5.6+2.4 officers from various disciplines. Oral health care supplies were required for oral examination (4.65+0.56), oral hygiene instruction (4.73+0.53), and oral health education (4.59+0.66), which corresponded to the most major oral problems in dependent older adults, that was poor oral hygiene (4.72+0.48).