HLTOHC002
Inform and support patients and groups about oral health


Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide practical information and instruction to patients and groups to promote and support good oral health care practices. The skills and knowledge will enable the candidate to provide health promotion and practical demonstration and instruction of oral hygiene practices and techniques.

This unit applies to workers in a range of health and community services environments whose work roles provide them with an opportunity to promote and support good oral health care.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards for maintaining infection control, and industry codes of practice.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria specify the level of performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element

1. Develop and maintain understanding of oral health information and issues

1.1 Build on understanding of what constitutes good oral health

1.2 Maintain current knowledge on the risk factors and outcomes associated with poor oral health and hygiene practices

1.3 Identify oral health hygiene techniques used to address specific patient needs and preferences

1.4 Demonstrate own commitment to oral health through awareness and application of effective self-care oral health practices

1.5 Recognise social and cultural determinants of health as well as varying individual motivations and capacity to carry out good oral health care practices

2. Provide information related to oral health using a person-centred approach

2.1 Address agreed outcomes in planning for oral health care needs by explaining the link between oral health and general health

2.2 Prepare information so that it is relevant to the target audience and use a person-centred approach to identify and respond effectively to individual needs

2.3 Engage and respond to concerns of patient by providing oral health care information, including issues associated with poor oral health and hygiene

2.4 Negotiate with patient a flexible approach to delivery of oral health information

2.5 Explain relevant information on the importance of regular oral checks with an oral health practitioner

3. Provide specific information and instruction on oral hygiene self-care techniques and appropriate aids

3.1 Collect data specific to patient by questioning, observing and accessing available information from patient and/or carer

3.2 Instruct and explain tooth brushing and soft tissue techniques and use of appropriate aids, explain their advantages in terms of achieving and maintaining effective oral health

3.3 Demonstrate and provide instruction on the care of partial and full dentures

3.4 Identify opportunities for participants to demonstrate learned skills

3.5 Encourage and support patients, including people with special needs to follow effective self-care techniques for oral hygiene practices to make knowledge, attitude and behavioural changes where possible

4. Evaluate effectiveness of oral health information session

4.1 Obtain feedback from the patient and/or group to determine whether the information is correctly received and understood

4.2 Implement changes to information or delivery processes based on feedback

Foundation Skills

The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.