Factors influencing the oral health behaviour of Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities living in residential care: A qualitative study

Sonja M. Kalf-Scholte; Renate van Zoonen; Dina Sijperda-Abdul; Henk Algra; Cees Valkenburg

doi:10.1111/jar.13220

Factors influencing the oral health behaviour of Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities living in residential care: A qualitative study

Sonja M. Kalf-Scholte^*, Renate van Zoonen, Dina Sijperda-Abdul, Henk Algra, Cees Valkenburg

^*Corresponding author for this work

Periodontology

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: Toothbrushing, limiting intake frequency, and scheduled visits to an oral healthcare professional (OHP) are key for good oral health. We aimed to explore factors influencing these oral health behaviours in Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities (MBID) in residential care. Method: Using a qualitative, descriptive approach, we conducted focus groups and interviews with 12 adolescents, 9 counsellors, and 6 OHPs. Thematic analysis mapped factors influencing adolescents' knowledge, attitude, planning, and execution of oral health behaviours to oral care stakeholders. Results: Of nine identified influencing factors, three were pivotal: Structure (influencing toothbrushing and intake frequency), Anxiety (impeding dental visits), and Support (provided by counsellors). Conclusions: Counsellors should provide structured daily guidance on oral hygiene and diet for adolescents with MBID, while respecting the adolescents' autonomy. As intermediaries between adolescents and OHPs, counsellors are key in reducing dental anxiety. Counsellors need clear oral health policies within care facilities to address competing priorities.

Original language	English
Article number	e13220
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Volume	37
Issue number	3
Early online date	16 Mar 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13220
Publication status	Published - May 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Funding

This research received specific grants from funding agencies in the public and not‐for‐profit sectors. The following parties provided in part funding for the project: 's Heeren Loo care group, VMBZ, TNO Health Holland (TKI‐LSH). The work for this paper was funded by the regular academic appointment of Valkenburg at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) and Van Zoonen at the not‐for‐profit TNO, Child Health, the Netherlands. The first draft of the paper was prepared as a part of the obligation of the author Sijperda‐Abdul to fulfil the requirements of the program in Special Care Dentistry.

Funders	Funder number
Valkenburg at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam
Alliance for California Traditional Arts

Keywords

adolescents
behaviourmild to borderline intellectual disabilityoral healthqualitative research

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10.1111/jar.13220

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Kalf-Scholte, S. M., van Zoonen, R., Sijperda-Abdul, D., Algra, H., & Valkenburg, C. (2024). Factors influencing the oral health behaviour of Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities living in residential care: A qualitative study. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 37(3), 1-12. Article e13220. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13220

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abstract = "Background: Toothbrushing, limiting intake frequency, and scheduled visits to an oral healthcare professional (OHP) are key for good oral health. We aimed to explore factors influencing these oral health behaviours in Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities (MBID) in residential care. Method: Using a qualitative, descriptive approach, we conducted focus groups and interviews with 12 adolescents, 9 counsellors, and 6 OHPs. Thematic analysis mapped factors influencing adolescents' knowledge, attitude, planning, and execution of oral health behaviours to oral care stakeholders. Results: Of nine identified influencing factors, three were pivotal: Structure (influencing toothbrushing and intake frequency), Anxiety (impeding dental visits), and Support (provided by counsellors). Conclusions: Counsellors should provide structured daily guidance on oral hygiene and diet for adolescents with MBID, while respecting the adolescents' autonomy. As intermediaries between adolescents and OHPs, counsellors are key in reducing dental anxiety. Counsellors need clear oral health policies within care facilities to address competing priorities.",

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Kalf-Scholte, SM, van Zoonen, R, Sijperda-Abdul, D, Algra, H & Valkenburg, C 2024, 'Factors influencing the oral health behaviour of Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities living in residential care: A qualitative study', Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, vol. 37, no. 3, e13220, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13220

Factors influencing the oral health behaviour of Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities living in residential care: A qualitative study. / Kalf-Scholte, Sonja M.; van Zoonen, Renate; Sijperda-Abdul, Dina et al.
In: Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, Vol. 37, No. 3, e13220, 05.2024, p. 1-12.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Factors influencing the oral health behaviour of Dutch adolescents with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities living in residential care: A qualitative study

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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