03293nas a2200421   4500000000100000008004100001653001000042653001100052653001100063653000900074653000900083653001600092653002800108653004200136653002100178653002600199653001600225100001800241700001800259700001700277700001700294700001800311700001800329700002000347700002100367700001800388700001900406700002100425700001800446700002000464700001800484700001800502245009200520300001300612490000700625520222500632022001402857       2017                            d10aAdult10aFemale10aHumans10aAged10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aCardiovascular Diseases10aHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice10aNeeds Assessment10aSocioeconomic Factors10aOral Health1 aRedfern Julie1 aAjwani Shilpi1 aBhole Sameer1 aGeorge Ajesh1 aLintern Karen1 aSanchez Paula1 aEverett Bronwyn1 aSalamonson Yenna1 aBishop Joshua1 aNolan Samantha1 aRajaratnam Rohan1 aSheehan Maria1 aSkarligos Fiona1 aSpencer Lissa1 aSrinivas Ravi00aOral health and cardiovascular care: Perceptions of people with cardiovascular disease.  ae01811890 v123 a<p><b>MAIN OBJECTIVE: </b>The aim of this study was to explore the perception of patients with cardiovascular disease towards oral health and the potential for cardiac care clinicians to promote oral health.</p><p><b>METHOD: </b>A needs assessment was undertaken with twelve patients with cardiovascular disease attending cardiac rehabilitation between 2015 and 2016, in three metropolitan hospitals in Sydney, Australia. These patients participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Results suggested that while oral health was considered relevant there was high prevalence of poor oral health among participants, especially those from socioeconomic disadvantaged background. Awareness regarding the importance of oral health care its impact on cardiovascular outcomes was poor among participants. Oral health issues were rarely discussed in the cardiac setting. Main barriers deterring participants from seeking oral health care included lack of awareness, high cost of dental care and difficulties in accessing the public dental service. Findings also revealed that participants were interested in receiving further information about oral health and suggested various mediums for information delivery. The concept of cardiac care clinicians, especially nurses providing education, assessment and referrals to ongoing dental care was well received by participants who felt the post-acute period was the most appropriate time to receive oral health care advice. The issues of oral health training for non-dental clinicians and how to address existing barriers were highlighted by participants.</p><p><b>RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: </b>The lack of oral health education being provided to patients with cardiovascular disease offers an opportunity to improve care and potentially, outcomes. In view of the evidence linking poor oral health with cardiovascular disease, cardiac care clinicians, especially nurses, should be appropriately trained to promote oral health in their practice. Affordable and accessible dental care services for people with cardiovascular disease should be considered and offered by health services in Australia.</p>  a1932-6203