TY - JOUR

T1 - Developing a Consensus Statement to Target Oral Health Inequalities in People With Severe Mental Illness

AU - Mishu, Masuma Pervin

AU - Aggarwal, Vishal

AU - Shiers, David

AU - Peckham, Emily

AU - Johnston, Gordon A

AU - Joury, Easter

AU - Chew-Graham, Carolyn

AU - Goodall, Katie

AU - Elliott, Emma

AU - French, Paul

AU - Harris, Rebecca

AU - Laverty, Louise

AU - Palmier-Claus, Jasper

PY - 2024/8

Y1 - 2024/8

N2 - IntroductionOral diseases are more prevalent in people with severe mental illness (SMI) compared to those without mental illnees. A greater focus on oral health is needed to reverse unacceptable but often neglected oral health inequality in people with SMI. This provided the impetus for developing ‘The Right to Smile’ consensus statement. We aimed to develop and disseminate a consensus statement to address oral health inequality, highlighting the main areas for concern and recommending an evidence‐based 5‐year action plan to improve oral health in people with SMI.MethodsThe Right to Smile consensus statement was developed by experts from several professional disciplines and practice settings (mental, dental and public health) and people with lived experience, including carers. Stakeholders participated in a series of online workshops to develop a rights‐based consensus statement. Subsequent dissemination activities were conducted to maximise its reach and impact.ResultsThe consensus statement was developed to focus on how oral health inequalities could be addressed through a set of 5‐year improvement targets for practice, policy and training. The consensus was reached on three 5‐year action plans: ‘Any assessment of physical health in people experiencing SMI must include consideration of oral health’, ‘Access to dental services for people with SMI needs to improve’ and ‘The importance of oral health for people experiencing SMI should be recognised in healthcare training, systems, and structures’.ConclusionThis consensus statement urges researchers, services and policymakers to embrace a 5‐year action plan to improve oral health for people with SMI.Patient or Public ContributionThe team included people with lived experience of SMI, their carers/family members and mental and dental health service providers. They were involved in every stage of developing the consensus statement, from conception to development and dissemination.

AB - IntroductionOral diseases are more prevalent in people with severe mental illness (SMI) compared to those without mental illnees. A greater focus on oral health is needed to reverse unacceptable but often neglected oral health inequality in people with SMI. This provided the impetus for developing ‘The Right to Smile’ consensus statement. We aimed to develop and disseminate a consensus statement to address oral health inequality, highlighting the main areas for concern and recommending an evidence‐based 5‐year action plan to improve oral health in people with SMI.MethodsThe Right to Smile consensus statement was developed by experts from several professional disciplines and practice settings (mental, dental and public health) and people with lived experience, including carers. Stakeholders participated in a series of online workshops to develop a rights‐based consensus statement. Subsequent dissemination activities were conducted to maximise its reach and impact.ResultsThe consensus statement was developed to focus on how oral health inequalities could be addressed through a set of 5‐year improvement targets for practice, policy and training. The consensus was reached on three 5‐year action plans: ‘Any assessment of physical health in people experiencing SMI must include consideration of oral health’, ‘Access to dental services for people with SMI needs to improve’ and ‘The importance of oral health for people experiencing SMI should be recognised in healthcare training, systems, and structures’.ConclusionThis consensus statement urges researchers, services and policymakers to embrace a 5‐year action plan to improve oral health for people with SMI.Patient or Public ContributionThe team included people with lived experience of SMI, their carers/family members and mental and dental health service providers. They were involved in every stage of developing the consensus statement, from conception to development and dissemination.

KW - consensus statement, mental illness, oral health

U2 - 10.1111/hex.14163

DO - 10.1111/hex.14163

M3 - Article

VL - 27

JO - Health Expectations

JF - Health Expectations

SN - 1369-6513

IS - 4

M1 - e14163

ER -