Publications by authors named "Dominique H Como"

Objectives: To capture nursing home staff perspectives on the benefits and challenges related to caring for residents living with Alzheimer disease and other related dementias. These perspectives will inform the initial development of strategies to help with staff retention.

Design: A secondary qualitative analysis of semistructured interviews conducted with nursing home staff, which was embedded within a pragmatic clinical trial.

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Objectives: Nursing home dementia care initiatives have prioritized nonpharmacologic approaches to manage behavioral symptoms. This study compares the effectiveness of 2 nonpharmacologic approaches on resident outcomes.

Design And Intervention: Cluster randomized controlled trial using a convergent mixed methods design to compare the team-based and problem-based approaches to dementia care.

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Objectives: Compare the effectiveness of 2 nonpharmacologic approaches to dementia care in nursing homes on 12- and 18-month resident outcomes, which was after the emergence of COVID-19.

Design And Intervention: A cluster randomized pragmatic trial, which included an embedded convergent mixed-methods design. Nursing homes were randomized to a team-based (TB) or problem-based (PB) intervention arm.

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Oral care-related challenges are well documented in the autistic community; dental care remains one of the most prevalent unmet health needs among autistic individuals. This review examined interventions designed to improve oral health in autistic individuals from children and adult populations. Through a systematic process, 36 studies were identified.

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Social Stories (also known as social narratives) help individuals participate in and understand social situations. This scoping review identifies and synthesizes social narrative research targeting behavior change in individuals with ASD. Using the following questions as a guide: (a) What is the scope of social narrative interventions used for individuals with ASD, (b) What behavior change outcome measures are evaluated, and (c) What research designs are used; five databases were searched from 2007-to-2018.

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Non-pharmacological strategies are prioritized to manage dementia-related symptoms in nursing homes (NHs). A multiple-case study design, embedded within a pragmatic trial, examined NH staff perspectives of applying a team-based (TB) or problem-based dementia training program to resident care. A purposive sample of staff was recruited from 23 NHs to participate in one-on-one interviews, which were analyzed using a rapid qualitative approach.

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Importance: Autistic children have poorer oral health and greater oral care challenges, which are often associated with sensory overresponsivity, than neurotypical peers. It is important to identify innovative solutions enabling dentists to successfully perform standard clinic-based procedures for this population.

Objective: To determine whether a sensory-adapted dental environment (SADE) reduces physiological and behavioral distress in autistic children undergoing dental cleanings, compared with a regular dental environment (RDE).

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The most persistent oral health disparities in the United States impact children from racial and ethnic minoritized groups and children diagnosed as autistic. This paper aims to describe barriers to oral care as depicted by Black/African American (B/AA) parents of autistic children to further explore how and why oral health disparities persist in this population. A purposeful sample of eleven caregivers of autistic children, ages 4 to 14 years, who identified as B/AA were interviewed twice for approximately 60-90 min each.

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This pilot study used data from a survey to examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices about oral care of Latinx parents/caregivers of children with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to identify gaps to focus future intervention. Sixty English-speaking Latinx parents/caregivers who had a child between 4 and 14 years with or without ASD (=31 ASD, =29 typically developing [TD]) completed a questionnaire on oral health knowledge, practices, access to care, and demographics. Caregiver responses were compared, and gaps in knowledge and practices were identified.

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Diet and food choices significantly impact teeth, including enamel quality and development of dental caries. However, studies focusing on diet and its relation to oral care in Latinx children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been minimally addressed in research. This qualitative study used an inclusive visual methodology to explore what Latinx caregivers learned about their child's diet preferences and food routines in relation to their oral health.

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Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at risk for oral health disparities. With the dramatic rise in ASD prevalence to 1 in 54 children, it is likely that an increasing number of dental practitioners will encounter or be asked to treat children with ASD. This paper reviews explanations related to the increasing prevalence of ASD, provides reasons why children with ASD are at increased risk for poor oral health, and discusses unique interprofessional collaborations between dental practitioners and occupational therapists.

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Introduction: Due to provider shortages, it is probable that non-Latinx health care providers (HCPs) will treat Latinx patients. Because of this discrepancy, both providers and patients are likely to experience barriers and cultural differences during medical encounters. This article discusses select cultural factors and behaviors such as language, communication styles, and health care practices of Latinx families through the lens of their non-Latinx HCPs.

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As a result of various barriers, several pediatric populations are at risk for poor oral health, including children with disabilities and children from under-represented populations, such as Latinos. To this end, this study aimed to better understand the factors that affect the oral health experiences of 32 Latino parents/caregivers from 18 families ( = 8 with a typically developing child and = 10 with a child with Autism). Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, each family was interviewed twice.

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In healthcare settings, language used by healthcare providers can influence provider-patient encounters with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, impacting feelings of stigma and marginalization. This study highlights the unconscious biases healthcare providers might have regarding their patients with autism spectrum disorder and how those beliefs are articulated. Seven pediatric dentists participated in two focus groups to describe strategies to improve oral care for children with autism spectrum disorder.

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Oral health is an important yet often neglected component of overall health, linked to heart disease, stroke, and diabetic complications. Disparities exist for many groups, including racial and ethnic minorities such as African Americans. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential factors that perpetuate oral health care disparities in African American children in the United States.

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Oral health is important to physical and psychological health. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience significant oral care challenges, but little research exists that examines efficacious interventions to improve care. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore parental and dentist reports of successful strategies implemented during dental care with children with ASD.

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