Views of xerostomia among health care professionals: a qualitative study.

Aim: To explore and describe views of xerostomia among health care professionals.

Background: Xerostomia (dry mouth) is caused by changes in quality and quantity of saliva due to poor health, certain drugs and radiation therapy. It is a common symptom, particularly among older people and has devastating consequences with regard to oral health and general well-being.

Nursing staff's understanding of oral health care for patients with cancer diagnoses: an intervention study.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-lasting changes in the nursing staff's understanding of oral health care for cancer patients after an oral health care intervention. The study also assessed whether there were changes between registered nurses and auxiliary nurses.

Background: The maintenance of good oral health care in cancer patients is essential for nutrition, recovery and wellbeing and requires the involvement of nursing staff.

Mental health professional support in families with a member suffering from severe mental illness: a grounded theory model.

The aim of this study was to develop a model of mental health professional (MHP) support based on the needs of families with a member suffering from severe mental illness (SMI). Twelve family members were interviewed with the focus on their needs of support by MHP, then the interviews were analyzed according to the grounded theory method. The generated model of MHP support had two core categories: the family members' process from crisis to recovery and their interaction with the MHP about mental health/illness and daily living of the person with SMI.

The effect of an oral health education program after three years.

Three years after providing an oral health education program (OHEP) to nursing personnel, the authors analyzed the effect of the program on knowledge of the importance of oral health and on perception among the nurses of the possibility to implement oral care in patient care. The study was based on a cross-sectional survey of all nursing personnel (N = 2,901) in five municipalities in the Southwestern Sweden, of whom 950 had attended four one-hour lessons during an OHEP in 1996. The response rate to the survey questionnaire was 67% (1,930 subjects).

The relation between xerostomia and hyposalivation in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between xerostomia and hyposalivation in 100 subjects with either rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, and further, to evaluate the predictive value of xerostomia on hyposalivation. Unstimulated and chewing stimulated whole saliva was collected in the morning with the subjects in a strict fasting condition and then about 2 hours later, after intake of a standardised breakfast. All participants filled in a questionnaire, mainly dealing with xerostomia.

Nursing personnel's views on oral health from a health promotion perspective: a grounded theory analysis.

The aim of this study was to develop a model for how nursing personnel view oral health in general and the oral health of the care receivers in particular, applying a health promotion perspective and using grounded theory analysis. Data were collected through interviews with 17 nursing personnel, selected by strategic sampling. Analysis of the transcribed interviews showed that there were four strategies, related to staff education, hospital resources, and leadership motivation.