Kjersti Berge Evensen and Vibeke Hervik Bull
Prisoners’ oral health is an often overseen, yet important aspect of the general health of prisoners. To develop effective measures to improve the situation, it is important to…
Abstract
Purpose
Prisoners’ oral health is an often overseen, yet important aspect of the general health of prisoners. To develop effective measures to improve the situation, it is important to get an overview of existing research. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyse existing research on oral health of prisoners and provide a thorough understanding of prisoners’ oral health and related factors.
Design/methodology/approach
Due to relatively few scientific papers on prisoners’ oral health, an integrative review was chosen. Integrative reviews allow for the inclusion of diverse methodologies. A literature search was conducted, followed by an assessment of the quality of the studies by using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the studies.
Findings
The few studies addressing European prisoners’ oral health in the last 21 years differ in design and methodology. The results from this review indicate that prisoners’ oral health is a complex phenomenon and should be understood from both individual and organisational perspectives. More research is needed to bridge the gap in the literature on prisoners’ oral health.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first literature review on European prisoners’ oral health.
Details
Keywords
Kjersti Berge Evensen, Vibeke Hervik Bull and Linda Ness
Prisoners have poorer oral health than the general population. Good oral health is essential for both social and physical well-being. For prisoners, poor oral health is also…
Abstract
Purpose
Prisoners have poorer oral health than the general population. Good oral health is essential for both social and physical well-being. For prisoners, poor oral health is also related to drug use after release, whereas good oral health is related to successful reintegration into society. The purpose of this study was twofold: to examine the effect of an intervention based on motivational interviewing (MI) on prisoners’ oral health-related behavior and to assess if the intervention is a good fit for this population.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 16 prisoners in a Norwegian prison were offered a brief MI-based intervention focusing on changing their oral health-related behavior. An oral examination was also performed and the prisoners received a small package containing oral hygiene aids. Two weeks later, a second oral examination and a semi-structured interview were conducted to explore the effect of the intervention and examine the prisoners’ responses to the intervention. Qualitative data analyzes were guided by thematic analysis.
Findings
The findings indicate that the intervention had positive effects on both the prisoners’ motivation to use oral health-related behavior and their performance of oral health-related behavior. The findings also indicate that the intervention was well adapted to the target population.
Originality/value
This is one of the first studies that explore the effect of an intervention in improving prisoners’ oral health and bridges a knowledge gap in the literature. The findings may increase the understanding of how dental services should be organized and offered to provide dental health care to this vulnerable group.
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Kjersti Berge Evensen and Håvard Hansen
The purpose of this paper is to investigate integrative practices within institutional food chains with special emphasis on cooperation and information sharing.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate integrative practices within institutional food chains with special emphasis on cooperation and information sharing.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was applied, based on 17 in-depth interviews with staff from four different institutions. The data collection and analysis were guided by constructivist grounded theory.
Findings
In summary, the authors find that: low differentiation lead to a high level of service variability at the satellite kitchens, high level of optimizing behavior lead to a high level of service variability, there is a positive relationship between food task involvement and access to the information being shared, there is a positive relationship between food task involvement and participation in cooperation activities and when the physical distance between stages in the chain increases, the information sharing will deteriorate.
Research limitations/implications
To empirically generalize the findings, this first qualitative study should be followed up by a quantitative study.
Practical implications
Based on the findings, the authors suggest that the chains would benefit from improving the interfaces between front line employees, and share information more extensively. The location of the central kitchen seems to influence information sharing across stages in the food chains.
Originality/value
To the authors’ knowledge this is the first study that examines cooperation and information sharing practices within institutional food chains.