Challenges in geriatric oral health research methodology concerning caregivers of cognitively impaired elderly adults |
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| Authors: | Valerie L Blanco RDH MS Steven M Levy DDS MPH Ronald L Ettinger BDS MDS DDSc Henrietta Logan PhD Kathleen C Buckwalter PhD RN |
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| Institution: | Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, Kansas City, Missouri;Professors, Departments of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Prosthodontics and Dows Institute for Dental Research, and Preventive and Community Dentistry, respectively, at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Iowa City, Iowa;Professor in the College of Nursing, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa |
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| Abstract: | Little is known about oral health care behaviors of community-dwelling, cognitively impaired elderly (CIE) persons. Few studies have been conducted regarding the actual provision of oral care for CIE persons or the attitudes and concerns about oral health among their caregivers. The CIE person's ability to perform self-care decreases over time, and the role of the caregiver in daily oral care becomes increasingly important. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the attitudes toward oral health and identify related concerns among caregivers who care for community-dwelling CIE persons. Caregivers were surveyed by means of a self-administered, mailed questionnaire. To maintain confidentiality, an intermediary was used for recruitment and data collection. Overall, 148 caregivers were invited by an intermediary to participate in the survey; only 21 (14%) consented to participate and returned the questionnaire. This paper discusses some of the numerous methodological challenges identified when an attempt was made to survey caregivers' attitudes toward and barriers to providing oral care for a dependent CIE. |
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