Perceived oral care needs of terminally ill adults – a qualitative investigation

Individuals with advance-stage illnesses frequently face illness or treatment-related adverse effects in the mouth. These adverse effects can have serious consequences. Despite that, the importance of oral care in this population is often overlooked and there are no definitive guidelines as to what kind of oral care should be provided to these individuals. Given that, our study aims were to explore and better understand the oral health-related concerns, perceived oral care needs of palliative care patients and the berries that face in accessing dental care services. We conducted a qualitative description study by recruiting a purposive sample of 11 participants with advanced stage health conditions from the outpatient palliative care services of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews using an interview guide. All interviews were fully transcribed, with the data managed with Atlas.ti software to facilitate the analysis. All participants had oral concerns although they varied widely from person to person and their illness statuses. The most significant concerns were related to dry mouth, loose dentures, and eating difficulties. Among those who stated that they would seek dental care if required, they were not planning on seeking dental care even though they had treatable oral problems, suggesting a mismatch between their oral health status and their perceived needs. The frequently observed barriers that prevented them from seeking dental care were their illness and illness related priorities, finances, feeling discriminated against by the dentist, and a dislike towards the dentist. Providing information to the palliative care clinicians about the significance of oral health and its impact, incorporating a dental care provider in palliative care team, and providing timely information to individuals with advanced health conditions may enhance the understanding of their oral health problems and help them better manage their oral health and may enhance their dental care seeking behavior.