Views on oral health determinants as described by persons with continuous positive airway pressure‑treated obstructive sleep apnoea : a qualitative study

• Background Oral diseases have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, and persons with continuous positiveairway pressure [CPAP]-treated obstructive sleep apnoea [OSA] have an increased risk for negative consequences forboth oral and general health. CPAP treatment is often life-long and adherence to treatment is essential. Xerostomiais a common side-effect which can lead to treatment abandonment. Oral health is a changeable part of our generalhealth and well-being and exploring the views of oral health determinants from persons with experience of CPAP-treatment is important to prevent adverse oral health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore whatpersons with experience of CPAP-treated OSA view as determinants for their oral health. Methods Eighteen persons with long-term experience of CPAP-treated OSA were purposively selected. Data werecollected by semi-structured individual interviews. A code book based on the World Dental Federation’s [FDI] theo-retical framework for oral health was developed and used to analyse the data using directed content analysis. Thedomains in the framework’s component driving determinants were used as pre-determined categories. Using thedescription of driving determinants as a guide, meaning units were extracted from the interview transcripts throughan inductive approach. Then, by employing a deductive approach the code book was used to categorise the meaningunits into the pre-determined categories. Findings The views on oral health determinants described by the informants were compatible with the five domainsin the component driving determinants in the FDI’s theoretical framework. Ageing, heredity, and salivation (biologicaland genetic factors), influences from family and the wider society (social environment), location and re-localisation(physical environment), oral hygiene habits, motivation, willingness to change, professional support (health behav-iours), and availability, control, finances, and trust (access to care) were viewed as important oral health determinantsby the informants. Conclusion The study points to a variety of individual oral health-related experiences that oral healthcare profession-als could consider when designing interventions to reduce xerostomia and prevent adverse oral health outcomes forpersons undergoing long-term CPAP-treatment.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

eterminants

Oral health

Obstructive sleep apnoea

CPAP-treatmen

Oral hälsa

Dental Hygiene

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)