Palliative Care Nurses’ Experiences of Oral Hygiene Care: Qualitative Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12707/RVI25.90.42364Keywords:
nursing, oral health, oral hygiene, palliative care, end of life care, hospice and palliative care nursingAbstract
Introduction: Although nurses recognize the importance of oral hygiene care, the literature highlights relevant gaps in its implementation in palliative care.
Objective: To characterize nurses’ experiences in providing oral hygiene care to palliative patients.
Methodology: A qualitative systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined based on the population, the phenomenon of interest, and the context. The search was carried out in the CINAHL, MEDLINE, Nursing & Allied Health Collection, and Scopus databases, with no time restrictions. Study selection, methodological appraisal, and meta-aggregation analysis were conducted by two independent reviewers.
Results: Four studies were included, yielding 21 unequivocal findings, culminating in a synthesized finding: despite its impact on comfort and well-being in end-of-life patients, nurses frequently neglect oral hygiene care in palliative care settings. This neglect is associated with institutional constraints, lack of resources, debilitating symptoms, and patient resistance.
Conclusion: Nurses’ experiences are marked by institutional and structural barriers, as well as difficulties with patient adherence.
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References
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