Promoting oral healthcare among women in perimenopause/menopause: A mixed methods study to inform intervention strategies

APIC 3 Workshop: “Making oral heath everyone’s business”- Integrating Oral Health into Primary Care

09/11/2023

Participate In Our Study: Are you a woman in menopause or approaching menopause (perimenopause)?

23/11/2023

Investigators

Namitha Thomas
Professor Ajesh George
Professor Kath Peters

Dr Kate O'Reilly
Dr Mariana Souza

Project Overview

The project explores the significant oral health challenges faced by women in menopause, which adversely impact their quality of life. Research indicates that women in this phase encounter issues like burning sensation of mouth, dryness, and taste alterations, yet oral health is not prioritized among this demographic. There is a lack of information specifically pertaining to the experiences of women during perimenopause and menopause concerning oral health, and the role of healthcare providers in promoting oral health during this period.

This project seeks to investigate the oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women experiencing perimenopause/menopause, along with the roles of healthcare providers, including General Practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs), within Australia.

Aims & Objectives

The key aims and objectives of this study include:

To review current national and international literature regarding the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of oral health care among women in perimenopause/menopause and their health care providers (Phase 1).
To confirm the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women in perimenopause/menopause in Australia towards oral health and to identify barriers and facilitators in this area (Phase 2).
To explore the perceptions of women in perimenopause/menopause towards oral health and to gain in depth information about their acceptability and feasibility of healthcare providers promoting oral health (Phase 3a).
To explore the perceptions, knowledge and practices of healthcare providers in Australia towards oral health care among women in perimenopause/menopause and their perceived barriers and facilitators in this area. (Phase 3b).
To incorporate study findings to inform new intervention strategies to promote oral health of women in perimenopause/menopause.

Be Part of Our Study

Women Experiencing Menopause or Approaching (Perimenopause)

If you are interested in participating in a survey for the study, please click here to view the project flyer.

If you are interested in participating in an interview for the study, please click here to view the project flyer.

General Practitioners or Practice Nurses

If you are interested in participating in our study, please click here to view the project flyer.

Accessing Counseling and Oral Health Services

Counselling Services

To view counseling support services, please click here.

Oral Health Services

To access oral health services, please visit the webpage here.

Research Output

To see the various outputs from the program, please navigate to the pages below:

Publications Presentations Awards Training resources Oral health promotion resources

Alignment with ACIOH’s themes

Workforce reoriented:

Health Care Providers

This study aims to promote oral health to health care providers.

People-centred strategies:

Women Experiencing Perimenopause and Menopause

By developing and implementing appropriate oral health promotion strategies, women experiencing menopause/perimenopause are better supported and educated to receive oral health care.