Introduction: Understanding and addressing the individual beliefs of the elderly is crucial for improving their oral health and quality of life. The Dental Coping Beliefs Scale (DCBS) is an important tool for assessing caregivers' beliefs and attitudes regarding the oral health of their patients. By using the DCBS, healthcare professionals can tailor their approaches and support strategies to promote adherence to oral care among the elderly, aiming to strengthen positive beliefs and overcome potential barriers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using a questionnaire applying the Dental Coping Beliefs Scale (DCBS) in a final population of 44 institutional caregivers. This study included two institutions collaborating with FMD UCP, which are part of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Viseu. Individual interviews were conducted, ensuring the confidentiality of all participants. The process of translating the scale into Portuguese was carried out and its internal consistency was determined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results: The obtained results showed that most participants were female (97.72%), resided in villages (56.82%), had only basic education, had over 10 years of work experience and training in the healthcare field, although not specifically in oral healthcare, despite recognizing its importance for their profession. Despite varied beliefs regarding oral health, the majority emphasized the importance of prevention and regular dental visits. In checking the internal consistency of the scale translated into Portuguese, Cronbach's alpha for the 28 items was 0.510, that is, the instrument showed moderate internal reliability. Conclusion: This study concludes that proper oral hygiene is crucial for the health of institutionalized elderly individuals. Caregivers play an essential role, but there are gaps in the care provided. It is necessary to invest in caregiver training, promote communication with the healthcare team, and adapt care to individual needs.
- Elderly
- Oral hygiene habits
- Caregiver
- Institutionalized elderly
- Mestrado em Medicina Dentária
Caracterização dos cuidados de saúde oral aplicados por cuidadores institucionais
Pedro, K. A. G. (Student). 26 Jul 2023
Student thesis: Master's Thesis