“Dental Care Is Not My Priority”: A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Experiences and Support Needs for Oral Health Self-Care in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences and support needs for oral health self-care among older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

From November 2024 to January 2025, a descriptive qualitative study was conducted in China through individual semistructured interviews. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

A total of 23 participants were recruited. The findings are described in 3 themes and 6 subthemes. The first theme, perception of oral health: dental care is not a top priority in the context of aging, contained two subthemes: oral health illness perception and the role of diabetes and reliance on personal experience with limited knowledge and education. The second theme, oral health self-care: focusing on alleviating symptoms in oral health decisions, contained two subthemes: symptom-driving management and passive coping and adapting to oral changes to minimize the interruptions. The third theme, unmet support needs: multifaceted barriers and expectations in managing oral health, contained two subthemes: barriers to oral health-seeking behaviors and expectations for support from multiple stakeholders.

Conclusion:

The findings highlight the need for tailored oral health self-care education and support. Incorporating effective, culturally appropriate oral care into routine diabetes management is recommended to ensure high-quality care.