Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
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Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Jorma Virtanen, University of Turku, Finland
- Second opponent: Professor Rose Mari Olsen, Nord University, Norway
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Associate Professor Anja Maria Lyche Brænd, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor emeritus Per Nortvedt, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor emeritus Ragnhild Hellesø, University of Oslo
Summary
The proportion of older adults requiring home care is increasing. Declining health in this population is associated with a greater need for healthcare services, including support to maintain oral health.
This thesis explores oral health status, oral health-related quality of life, and dental services utilization among older adults receiving home care services in four municipalities in Southeastern Norway. In addition, it investigates oral healthcare beliefs among home care personnel.
The analyses showed that older adults receiving home care services had poor oral health and oral health-related quality of life, as well as underutilization of dental services. Many older adults are unaware of their entitlement in the public dental health services.
Less than half of healthcare personnels reported to have received training in oral healthcare. Having received oral healthcare training and having a higher level of education were associated with stronger oral healthcare beliefs.
There is a need for preventive programs, strengthened oral health knowledge among home care personnel, and to integrate oral healthcare into the general healthcare system. Moreover, better collaboration between the public dental health service and home care services is necessary to ensure improved oral health service for home care services recipients. Underutilization of dental health services and low awareness of entitlement to the public dental health services indicates that there is a need to strengthen awareness of these entitlements among older adults receiving help from home care services.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.