Oral health-care needs among clients receiving alcohol and other drugs treatment-A scoping review.

ISSUES: Poor oral health is a significant problem among people who access alcohol and other drugs (AOD) health services, yet little is known about their oral health-care needs and whether any interventions and guidelines are implemented within AOD treatment services. APPROACH: A scoping review was conducted to identify scientific literature in three focus areas: oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of clients and clinicians at AOD-related services; oral health guidelines for AOD clinicians; and interventions that describe clinicians promoting oral health among clients. KEY FINDINGS: Thirty-two reports were identified. Twenty-three studies focused on the oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices of AOD clients, but none of the studies explored perspectives of clinicians. Seven clinical practice guidelines were identified but recommendations varied. Only two interventions in which an AOD clinician promoted oral health were identified. IMPLICATIONS: Most reports provided insight into the perspectives of clients accessing AOD treatment services. Little evidence demonstrated that clinical practice guidelines were being implemented into practice, or that oral health promotion was part of the tasks of AOD clinicians. CONCLUSION: This review identified oral health knowledge gaps and perceived poor attitudes that appeared to be reflected in certain oral health practices among clients. This finding indicates a need to educate clients about oral health while receiving AOD treatment. There was an absence of research about the needs for AOD clinicians to advocate for good oral health, and little evidence exists about effective interventions that could enhance integrating oral health care into AOD treatment services.

Twelve tips for engaging students and community partners in medical education.

There is increasing evidence on the positive outcomes of engaging students and community partners in medical education, especially in achieving social accountability. However, less is known about the steps through which these engagements are established. This paper outlines twelve tips on establishing a robust and enduring partnership with students and community partners in medical education, using examples from the Western Sydney University School of Medicine. While context is paramount in any engagement program, these tips are formulated to be transferable to medical education settings in different countries, education systems, and the broader context of health professional education.

Opioid dependent patients' experiences of and attitudes towards having their injecting sites examined.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the attitude towards, and experiences of, injection site examination among injecting drug users in opioid treatment and the potential impact of this routine examination on information disclosure and future injection practices. METHODS: A self-complete, anonymous, cross-sectional questionnaire was used with 153 patients recruited from three public clinics in Sydney, Australia. RESULTS: The vast majority (97%) had ever injected in their upper limb, 19% in their leg, 16% in their neck, and 7% in their groin. The majority were 'happy to have their sites inspected' (78%), and felt it was an 'appropriate part of routine examination' (72%). Seventy-seven percent said they would be more honest about recent injecting, and 25% would inject in other sites if upper limb inspection occurred at every clinical review. CONCLUSIONS: The examination of injecting sites can provide useful corroboration of self-reported injecting drug use and an opportunity to offer harm reduction advice. The inspection of injecting sites was acceptable to most patients and should form part of routine clinical reviews.