Hearts and mouths: perceptions of oral hygiene by at-risk heart surgery patients

Objective To assess and use the attitudes of patients who are placed at risk after valvular heart surgery due to the connection between poor oral hygiene, valvular heart disease/surgery and the risk of developing infective endocarditis. Design A qualitative (focus group) design based study carried out on subjects three months post heart surgery. Method There were five focus groups of five participants each convened by an experienced moderator. Results These portrayed an apparent pressing desire by most patients to talk about their experiences. However, patients did not accept the link between their oral health and their general health. Oral hygiene practices were not necessarily oral health related. Conclusions The importance of the study in understanding the reasons for a patient's behaviour is evident when there is a clear need to modify the behaviour patterns of the patients effectively. Clinical trials can now be developed based on these results.