Multidisciplinary Professionals' Perceptions of Home-Visit Oral Care for Older Adults in Integrated Community Care: A Focus Group Interview Study

Background/Objectives: With the acceleration of population ageing, the need for integrated support in healthcare and caregiving is increasing, and there is growing societal demand for improved service quality. This study aimed to identify the core elements that should be included in a home-visit oral care protocol for older adults, based on multidisciplinary collaboration, by thoroughly exploring the perceptions and experiences of multidisciplinary healthcare program providers. Methods: The study participants comprised 16 individuals: eight dental hygienists with experience in home-based oral care and eight multidisciplinary healthcare providers. Focus group interviews were conducted with these participants, and the collected data were analysed using qualitative content analysis to derive key themes and categories. Results: The analysis revealed four main thematic categories: 1) cognitive aspects (understanding of geriatric diseases and families), 2) technical aspects (effective communication and competence in oral care), 3) value-based aspects (empathy, patient-centredness, professional pride), and 4) multidisciplinary organisational efforts (establishing interprofessional collaboration systems and integrated platforms). Conclusions: Home-visit oral care services provided by dental hygienists were found to promote oral health among older adults. To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of such services, a customised integrated care model based on multidisciplinary collaboration should be established.