Improving Oral Health Assessment Rates in Primary Care
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Authors
Davis, Parker
Kearney, Jaymi
Mueting, Julia
Issue Date
2024-12-16
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Medicine--Oral health , Medicine--Primary care
Alternative Title
Abstract
A shortage of dental care providers, especially in rural communities, continues to contribute to inadequate maintenance of oral health for many Americans (National Institutes of Health, 2021). Without routine oral healthcare and oral health screenings, patients are placed at an increased risk for associated complications including acute oral infections, respiratory illnesses, and cardiovascular disease (Stephens et al., 2018). This project aimed to reduce the incidence of these complications by creating an opportunity for primary care providers to implement oral health screenings as part of routine wellness exams. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care was utilized to guide the implementation of oral screenings into practice. The project was conducted in a rural health facility in northwestern Kansas, a community in which residents must travel to be evaluated by a dental provider. Interventions included a) providing education on the importance of oral health screenings and b) recruiting primary care providers to implement screenings on patients attending a Well-Child, Annual Wellness, or Medicare Wellness visit. Chart audits of these visit types were performed to determine if oral health screenings were completed, documented, and a treatment plan was initiated. The final analysis of data revealed that screening rates peaked at 92% of wellness visits for that given week. However, these results were not maintained throughout the remainder of the project, and the participating provider voiced concerns related to a lack of time to complete the screenings during the limited time allowed for a wellness appointment. Project members continue to advocate for the importance of oral health screenings in primary care to address disparities in oral care for those living in rural communities.
Description
Practice Inquiry DNP Project III
Citation
Publisher
Washburn University