臺灣長期照護機構住民每天刷牙的調查及建議

A Survey and Suggestion of Daily Tooth Brushing for the Residents in All Long-term Care Facilities in Taiwan

刷牙是每人每天都會執行的口腔健康照護活動，但對於住在長期照護機構（以下簡稱長照機構）的身心障礙者、老人或因疾病導致個人無法自我照顧的住民，每天刷牙似乎是困難重重。現今在臺灣，除了身心障礙福利機構及護理之家，因機構評鑑或主管機關的要求，有將每天刷牙列入住民的照護項目外，大部份長照機構，對住民每天刷牙的行動只存在文件或準備行動階段。部份單位認為這是不可能的任務，執行情況及效果仍無有份量的研究。本文是依據天主教耕莘醫院團隊推動長照機構「給住民每天刷一次牙」活動所製作的問卷調查而提出，問卷內容包括：照顧者自身的刷牙方法、給住民刷牙的頻率、方法、時間和最佳時機、工作人員感受住民的改變、工作人員工作上的品質及效率的改變情況、執行刷牙的困難度、執行人力及意願。本文提出建議及未來研究的方向，給在長照機構的工作人員、學者、及政府主管單位作參考。

Tooth brushing is an oral health care activity performed by everyone each day, but for those living in long-term care facilities with mental and physical disabilities, the elderly or individuals who because of illness cannot take care of themselves, daily brushing seems to be difficult. In addition to the disability welfare facilities and nursing homes, because of the requirements of facility evaluation or its authorities, today in Taiwan, daily tooth brushing may be included in the resident's care program. For most long-term care facilities, daily tooth brushing activity is only seen on papers or still in preparation stage. This to some is an impossible task. Research on the implementation and its effect is still lack of quality and quantity. This article is based on the proposed questionnaire of Catholic Cardinal Tien Hospital team in promoting daily tooth brushing activities for long-term care residents. The questionnaire includes: caregiver's own method of brushing, periodic status of performing brushing, brushing method, duration, and the best time for tooth brushing, the perception of the staff in the changes of the residents, work quality and efficiency of the change after brushing, execution of the difficulty in brushing, manpower and willingness to perform. This paper presents some suggestions and directions for future research, dedicated for the staffs involved in long-term care facilities, academics, and government agency authorities as reference.