Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
June 2011
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Vol:
12
Issue:
2

Professional attitudes towards disability in special care dentistry

Aim: To use a theoretical framework to explore attitudes of staff within a Community Special Care Dentistry Department towards disability, disabled people and the provision of dental care for disabled people. Design: Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups of community special care dentistry staff (n=30) working across hospital and community sites. Respondents were asked about attitudes towards disability and disabled people, the provision of dental care for disabled people and to design an ideal service. Data were analysed retroductively using a theoretically derived framework modelled on the key tenets of the social model approach to disability. Setting: Data were collected from one large salaried dental service based in inner south-east London, as part of a Pacesetters Project through King’s College Hospital and the Department of Health. Results: An awareness of the underlying ethos of the social model approach to disability was demonstrated by community special care dental staff in relation to both the ethos of care and in practice. Disability was seen as an issue to be dealt with by the clinic rather than as an individual problem. Patient centred care, adapted to ensure that the needs of all patients could be adequately met, was at the heart of the model. Specific issues around communication, time, the need for trust, and specialist training were raised. It was also suggested that many of the skills needed to provide care for patients with complex needs were honed over time. Conclusions: There is evidence that community special care dentistry staff hold attitudes in support of the social model of disability and will provide an important resource to the profession. Future training needs for dental professionals are discussed.

Key words: Disability, SCD, social model, equality

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
51
Page End
58
Authors
Sasha Scambler, Emma Low, Liana Zoitopoulos, Jennifer E Gallagher

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 50
  3. 50

  1. Professional attitudes towards disability in special care dentistry
  2. 51
  3. 58

  1. Preventive strategies to improve periodontal health in people with Down syndrome
  2. 59
  3. 67

  1. The long-term effect of a preventive programme on caries, periodontal disease and tooth mortality in individuals with Down syndrome
  2. 68
  3. 80

  1. Comparative oral health of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and controls
  2. 81
  3. 87

  1. Implant, surgical and prosthodontic treatment for a patient with Down syndrome - a case report
  2. 91
  3. 94

  1. Diary Dates 2011
  2. 96
  3. 96

2024 rates