Exploring residential care aide experiences with oral malodour in long-term care

Aim To determine what experiences do residential care aides (RCAs) have with individuals living with oral malodour in a long-term care (LTC) facility? Design Study investigation was done using an interpretive qualitative approach paired with a social constructivism interpretive framework. Methods The study was conducted in May of 2015 through face-to-face interviews with RCAs, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim, observations of RCAs in their work environment, as well as RCA personal logs of their daily experiences with odour during caregiving. Thereafter, data were analysed and coded for emerging themes. Results Five major themes were identified after grouping the codes: 1) attitudes and behaviours when caring for residents with malodour; 2)RCA knowledge of oral malodour; 3) level of job satisfaction among RCAs that care for residents with malodour; 4) culture and malodour; and 5) challenges of care giving compounded by malodour. These themes depict the overall experiences of study participants.