มุมมองของบุคลากรทางการแพทย์และผู้ดูแลต่อการดูแลสุขภาพช่องปากของผู้สูงอายุที่มีภาวะพึ่งพิง: การศึกษาเชิงคุณภาพ

Abstract

As Thailand undergoes a demographic shift towards an aging society, Mae Mo District in Lampang Province has also entered this phase, resulting in an increasing dependency among the older population. The importance of oral health in relation to the overall well-being of dependent older individuals cannot be overstated. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives on oral health care among two key stakeholder groups: medical personnel at the primary care center in Mae Moh Hospital and caregivers in the long-term elderly care system in Mae Moh Subdistrict, Lampang Province. Using a qualitative research approach, semi-structured one-on-one interviews were conducted with a total of 24 participants. These participants were categorized into three groups: medical personnel (n=10), caregivers who completed a comprehensive 70-hour elderly care training course (n=9) using snowball technic selection, and family caregivers (n=5) who were specifically chosen for their insights. Transcriptions of all interviews were analyzed using content analysis, resulting in inductive conclusions. The study unveiled three fundamental themes that resonated across all participant groups 1.The Significance of Oral Health: Across the board, participants recognized that oral health played a vital role in the overall health of dependent older individuals, underlining its importance. 2. The confined nature of the oral cavity and the need for active patient cooperation. 3.Barriers to oral health care: participants identified several impediments to effective oral health care, including a lack of knowledge regarding oral care, an inadequate work system that failed to prioritize oral health, and limited access to essential equipment and resources. Understanding these diverse perspectives is essential for crafting a robust care system tailored to the oral health needs of dependent older individuals. This research provides a foundational understanding to integrate oral health care into primary care, thereby enhancing the efficacy of long-term care systems for the dependent older population and ultimately elevating their quality of life in the years to come.