Dental Decisions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Enhancing Dental Treatment Decisions for People Living with Dementia
IRAS ID
265438
Contact name
Andrew R Geddis-Regan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 7 months, 25 days
Research summary
Background
Most people are now keeping at least some of their natural teeth into older age. As people are living longer, more people are living with dementia. People living with dementia (PLwD) often experience dental problems such as toothache, decay, infections, missing teeth and problems with chewing. It can be difficult to treat these conditions if someone is unwell or anxious about dental treatment. People with early dementia can make their own decisions about treatment but this can get harder as dementia progresses. When somebody is unable to make their own decisions, healthcare professionals have to figure out what is thought to be in each patient's best interests. It is important that the right choice about dental treatment is made with or for each PLwD. Research is needed to understand how to help patients and dentists to make these difficult decisions.
Study Aim:
To develop and test an approach to help people living with dementia, families/carers and dentists to make decisions together about providing dental treatment.Design:
Phase 1:
Dental appointments of up to 20 PLwD will be observed. Notes made about these observations will help gain an understanding what does, and does not, work when helping PLwD or their family/carers to make decisions about dental treatment. In addition, up to 25 PLwD or their carers/family and up to 20 dentists will be interviewed to gain a better understanding of their attitudes, approaches and experience of decision-making for dental care.Phase 2:
Information from observations and interviews will inform a 'co-production process' where the research team will work with a range of groups to help develop an intervention that can improve the decision-making process in dental settings.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/YH/0048
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion