Implementing Award Winning Oral Health Research in Our Intensive Care Departments

An innovative project aimed at improving oral care for our patients in Intensive Care, has won a European Award of Distinction and is now being implemented at our Health Board.

Tracey Kinsella, Dental Hygienist at UHW, led on the research project, which included dedicated time to focus on research as part of her role (funded by the Oral and Dental Research Trust), and a secondment to the Critical Care unit. 

After spending time on the unit, supported by the research team, and senior colleagues in Critical Care, including Professor Matt Wise, Tacey went away to develop the dental hygiene program for patients on ventilators. 

Studies have shown there is often a deterioration of oral health when people arrive at hospital, “patients are immobile, not moving, often with mouth wide open, which can make the mouth dry, the impact of critical illness and medication side effects can have a big impact on bacteria in the mouth.” explained Tracey 

“Respiratory pathogens (like bacteria or viruses) may translocate (move) and invade lower airways if mouthcare is not carried out daily. Effective oral hygiene on wards can help prevent this and alleviate this risk, which is why the new ‘CCORA Scale’ maybe helpful. It could save lives in our departments, preventing and reducing the risk of patients getting infections like pneumonia” 

“Nurses are so busy and dental care or hygiene has and been given a low priority in the past, but we hope the new CCORA scale will help to change this.” Tracey continued. 

“We’ve now had it validated, and it was given it’s award of distinction (from the European Dental Hygienists Federation (EDHF), and now ready to implement and establish as regular practice in intensive care.”