Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40813971›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2025

Interprofessional collaboration on oral health for frail home-dwelling older people: a focus group study on needs and barriers experienced by general practitioners and community pharmacists.

Natalie Hoste, Ellen Baele, Aster De Vleeschauwer, Fien Mertens, Louise Poppe, Barbara Janssens, Peter Pype

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC primary care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Natalie HosteDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Interprofessional Collaboration in Education, Research and Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. natalie.hoste@ugent.be.
Ellen BaeleDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Interprofessional Collaboration in Education, Research and Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Aster De VleeschauwerDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Interprofessional Collaboration in Education, Research and Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Fien MertensDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Interprofessional Collaboration in Education, Research and Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Louise PoppeDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Barbara JanssensDepartment of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, ELOHA (Equal Lifelong Oral Health for All) research group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Peter PypeDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Interprofessional Collaboration in Education, Research and Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the increased risk of deteriorating oral health among older individuals, dental attendance often declines over time in frail home-dwelling older people (FHOP), resulting in a significant burden of untreated oral disease. Literature highlights the importance of interprofessional collaboration to address oral health problems in ageing societies, emphasising the potential roles of general practitioners (GPs) and pharmacists. However, there is currently limited evidence regarding (a) their engagement in oral health and (b) the perceived needs and barriers in contributing collectively to the oral health of FHOP. Therefore, this study aims to explore the needs and barriers perceived by GPs and pharmacists regarding interprofessional collaboration on oral health for FHOP.

methodsBetween February and December 2023, seven focus groups were conducted in two primary care zones in Flanders (Belgium) - five with GPs and two with pharmacists, involving a total of 51 participants. All conversations were recorded, transcribed, and analysed in NVivo using a reflexive thematic approach.

resultsThe identified barriers and needs for interprofessional collaboration were: limited engagement of GPs and pharmacists in oral health (theme 1), primarily due to a lack of knowledge and responsibility, time constraints, low outcome expectations, low prioritisation by FHOP, and the perception of oral health as a sensitive topic. Recognition of their potential roles was identified as a facilitator. Additionally, there is a need for improved interprofessional relationships (theme 2) and enhanced information exchange on oral health (theme 3), with the absence of a communication platform identified as a significant barrier. Limited accessibility of oral health professionals (OHPs) (theme 4) was also identified as an important barrier, which also contributed to frustrations of GPs towards OHPs.

conclusionsThis study provides novel insights into barriers to oral health engagement among GPs and pharmacists (micro level) and calls for improved communication and relationships between OHPs and GPs/pharmacists (meso level). Furthermore, it addresses macro-level obstacles to interprofessional collaboration, including a perceived shortage of OHPs, absence of a shared communication platform, and limited resources for preventive care.

Indexed as

Frail ElderlyGeneral PractitionersInterprofessional RelationsOral HealthPharmacistsAgedAged, 80 and overAttitude of Health PersonnelBelgiumCooperative BehaviorFemaleFocus GroupsHumansIndependent LivingMaleMiddle AgedCommunity pharmacistsFrailtyGeneral practitionersInterprofessional collaborationOlder adultsOral careOral hygienePrimary careQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID40813971
PMCPMC12351776

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.