Dr Ekta Gupta has been awarded a NHS Grampian Endowment grant to produce resources with older adults to improve health literacy and awareness of the links between oral health and general health in Grampian.
Title: Co-production of resources with older adults for improving oral health literacy and awareness of the links between oral and general health in Grampian
Principal Investigator: Dr Ekta Gupta
Co-PIs: Professor Phyo Myint and Dr Carrie Stewart
Healthy teeth and mouth (oral health) are important for overall health and well-being. As well as causing problems with eating and speaking, poor oral health increases the chances of developing conditions such as diabetes and, heart and breathing problems. If someone already has one of these health problems, poor oral health can make their condition harder to look after.
A recent survey in Grampian highlighted that many older people do not know about these risks, and that information about oral health is not always provided. It was also highlighted that to successfully self-manage their health, this information and appropriate advice on how to look after their teeth and mouth needs to be provided in easy-to-understand formats that they can understand.
The project will engage with established PPI (public and patient involvement) groups and members of the public (no previous PPI involvement) interested in oral health to help co-develop informative materials (for example, leaflets, short videos etc.). These resources will aim to improve older people’s understanding of oral health and provide information as to what they can do to improve their oral health. These materials will be valuable for improving both oral and general health of older people.
The funding for the project, of just under £20,000.00, has been awarded by the NHS Grampian Endowment Fund, which consists of over 800 different funds covering wards, departments and locations throughout Grampian. The charity safeguards donations made by patients, families and users of health services. The Endowment Fund has strict criteria to ensure that donations are used to enhance the services that NHS Grampian provides and to benefit of patients.