Barriers and facilitators for dental care among patients with severe or long-term mental illness.
Jofrid Bjørkvik, Diana Patricia Henriquez Quintero, Margrethe E Vika and 2 others
PMID 33523487WHAT IT FOUND
Most patients with severe mental illness found dental visits difficult because appointments, transport, cost, shame and fear of a critical dentist blocked them.
They said practical support and a respectful, familiar dentist helped them attend.
Key findings
01Nearly all participants reported barriers to dental care, grouped into practical arrangements and the relationship with the dentist.
02Practical barriers included making appointments, attending sessions, transport and poor economy.
03Participants said support from a psychiatric nurse and a respectful relationship with the dentist were important for using dental services.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 51 participants from one community mental health service in a Norwegian municipality, so it may not apply to people without that service or in other countries. No audio recordings were made, so the written notes may not capture all participant wording or nuance. Recruitment was through the familiar community mental health team, which may have influenced willingness to participate or responses. Participants were already receiving individual support, so the findings may not describe people with severe mental illness who are not engaged with services. The study reports experiences and suggestions, not measured oral health outcomes, so it cannot show that any support or dental arrangement works.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these facilitators as proven ways to improve oral health. The study asked 51 people about their experiences and suggestions; it did not measure dental outcomes or test whether nurse support, transport or a familiar dentist changed care.