"The whole thing is just really difficult": Experiences of Dental Services for Children and Adults With Cerebral Palsy in Australia - A Qualitative Study
Date
Authors
Lansdown, Karen
Smithers-Sheedy, Hayley
Bulkeley, Kim
Zagreanu, Claudia
Irving, Michelle
McGrath, Margaret
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Abstract
PURPOSE: People with cerebral palsy (CP) often experience significant barriers to accessing dental care, yet this area remains under researched in Australia. This study explored how people with CP and their caregivers experience dental services in Australia. METHODS: Semi structured interviews were conducted with a total of (n = 13) participants, including caregivers of children with CP (n = 4), adults with CP (n = 5) and caregivers of adults with CP (n = 4). RESULTS: Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) "The whole thing is just really difficult-Difficulties in identifying and accessing dental services for people with CP," (2) When care stops at the chair-Ableism in oral health care and (3) Person-centred care-How the dental profession can be more welcoming to people with CP. Two of these themes included sub-themes. People with CP experience complex and often overlooked challenges in accessing dental services, influenced by clinical and structural barriers, as well as by systemic failures and the quality of interaction with dental practitioners. When dental care is positive, it is underpinned by trust, effective communication, respect, and genuine partnership. CONCLUSION: People with CP and their caregivers in this study identified structural and interpersonal barriers to dental service access, while also suggesting practical, inclusive, and coordinated solutions to improve access to dental care.Description
Keywords
Cerebral palsy, caregivers, dental services, disability, person-centred care, reflexive thematic analysis, 4203 Health Services and Systems, 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 42 Health Sciences, 3203 Dentistry, Pediatric, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Disorders, Health Services, Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period, Clinical Research, Dental/Oral and Craniofacial Disease, 8.1 Organisation and delivery of services, 7.1 Individual care needs, Oral and gastrointestinal, Neurological, 3 Good Health and Well Being, 11 Medical and Health Sciences, Rehabilitation, 44 Human society
Source
Disabil Rehabil, ISSN: 0963-8288 (Print); 1464-5165 (Online), Informa UK Limited, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), 1-16. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2593749
Publisher's version
Rights statement
This is the Author's Accepted Manuscript version of an article published in Disability and Rehabilitation by Taylor & Francis. The Version of Record can be found at DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2025.2593749