# Perceptions of clinicians on promoting oral health care in an alcohol and other drug use health care service: A qualitative study

## TL;DR

This study explores how clinicians in drug and alcohol services perceive and address oral health care for their clients.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into clinicians' perceptions and barriers to promoting oral health in alcohol and drug use settings.

## Key findings

- Clinicians recognize the high prevalence of oral health issues among their clients.
- Barriers include access to dental services, affordability, and lack of training.
- Staff recommend training and resources to better support oral health promotion.

## Abstract

Alcohol and illicit drug use is linked to a higher prevalence of oral health complications. However, substance use can lead to avoidance of dental services due to anxiety and competing health priorities. This study explores current knowledge, attitudes and practices of clinicians of an alcohol and other drug service regarding promoting oral health among their clients.

Exploratory qualitative design using semi‐structured interviews with medical and nursing staff working as alcohol and other drug professionals in a Drug Health Service in South Western Sydney, Australia.

Three main themes were identified: perceptions of providing oral health care to clients; barriers to promoting oral health care; and recommendations for oral health integration in alcohol and other drug settings. Oral health concerns were identified as a significant issue for their clients within the alcohol and other drug setting. Considering a higher prevalence of oral health issues among clients, staff acknowledged that oral health interventions within alcohol and other drug settings would be beneficial. Barriers included access challenges for public dental services, affordability of private dental care, limited oral health training and time constraints. Staff recommends that training/resources are required to support staff in the provision of oral health promotion to clients.

Clients accessing alcohol and other drug services often have unmet oral health needs. The clinicians who participated in this study, are motivated to provide oral health promotion within this setting, however, they require training, resources (including allocation of time) and appropriate referral pathways to support provision of this service.