Sarah Mun Yee Koh, Nan Luo, Gerry McKenna, Sayaka Tada
Oral healthcare in LTCs was conceptualised as an iterative pathway of interdependent responsibilities. Implementing this pathway requires clear role specification, structured coordination, and organisational support, particularly where responsibilities are shared across professional groups.
OBJECTIVE: (i) to map responsibilities in the provision of oral healthcare for older adults in long-term care settings (LTCs), (ii) to examine how coordination processes are described, (iii) to analyse how these responsibilities and coordination processes are distributed across professional groups, (iv) to synthesise these findings into a conceptual oral healthcare pathway for LTCs.
BACKGROUND: Poor oral health remains prevalent among dependent older adults in LTCs worldwide, partly due to poorly coordinated oral healthcare delivery. Although strengthening interprofessional collaboration is essential, how it is structured in oral healthcare is unclear.
METHODS: A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute method. Multiple databases were searched for studies addressing responsibilities and coordination processes in oral healthcare provision in LTCs. Data were extracted using a standardised form and analysed iteratively.
RESULTS: Thirty-six studies were included. Responsibility domains were organised into two stages: (i) assessment and decision-making, and (ii) care provision and treatment. These domains were linked by coordination processes, including co-development activities and knowledge sharing. Across both stages, operational leadership and structured referral pathways supported alignment across professional groups. Patterns of responsibility distribution highlighted the area of involvement across professional groups. Organisation-level enablers including (i) governance, (ii) resources, and (iii) structured education were reported to support the operation of structured oral healthcare pathways.
CONCLUSION: Oral healthcare in LTCs was conceptualised as an iterative pathway of interdependent responsibilities. Implementing this pathway requires clear role specification, structured coordination, and organisational support, particularly where responsibilities are shared across professional groups.