Nurse practitioners' promotion of oral health care practices in underinsured and uninsured adults
File(s)
Date
2009-07-15Author
Ray, Vicki C.
Advisor(s)
Huebscher, Roxana
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The purpose of this study was to explore how nurse practitioners promote oral health care
in their underinsured and uninsured adult patients, as well as to identify factors that
discourage and encourage the integration of oral health promotion. The lack of access to oral
health care is a complex problem facing many Americans, especially the economically
disadvantaged. The Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health emphasizes a need for a
collaborative effort and call to action in promoting oral health. Many times nurse
practitioners serve as an individual's point of first contact with the health care system. Nurse
practitioners are in a position to influence the oral health care practices of individuals who
otherwise may receive no oral health care.
Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM) was used as a framework for this study. The
HPM is based on assumptions that clients play an active role in their health care behavior and
health maintenance (Pender, 1996).
This study used a descriptive design. The convenience sample was nineteen nurse
practitioners who provided preventative and acute health care services, and are practicing in
several clinics serving the underinsured and uninsured adult population in the Midwest. Data
collection consisted of a demographics and an open-ended questionnaire relating to oral
health care promotion practices. This questionnaire was mailed to participants. Anonymity
and confidentiality was maintained by using numbers to identify questionnaires and asking
participants not to sign their names. A narrative analysis of answers provided in the self
report was implemented to identify categories and connection from the narrative content.
Respondents reported that their awareness of the connection between oral health and
general health was the main reason they incorporated oral health care promotion in practice.
They also reported many barriers the underinsured and uninsured adult populations face
which make it difficult to help them with their oral health care needs. Mentioned throughout
the data are lack of access, lack of time, patient and provider priorities, and cost. Over half of
the respondents felt they needed more knowledge about how to screen for and promote good
oral hygiene among the underinsured and uninsured patients.
Subject
Dental insurance
Health and hygiene
Health promotion
Dental health education
Oral Health
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/35508Description
A Clinical Paper Submitted
In partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the Degree of
Master of Science in Nursing -
Family Nurse Practitioner
--
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 2009
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