Oral health experiences and needs amongst young adults after a first-episode psychosis: A phenomenological study

Introduction
Oral health affects quality of life, self‐esteem, physical health, and daily functioning. Treatment guidelines on patients after FEP recommend interventions, but clinical interventions are lacking. No research on the experiences of young adults’ oral health after FEP has been conducted.

Aims
This study aims to explore the lived experiences and needs of patients after FEP with regard to their oral health.

Design and Methods
Single‐centre phenomenological study using open interviews (N=30). Data were analysed using the Colaizzi method.

Results
Patients reported oral health problems since their FEP. The problems that patients encountered were dental care in general (e.g., a lack of awareness), risk factors (e.g., substance use, poor diet and financial problems), overall experiences with dentists/dental hygienists and the gap between needs and interventions.

Discussion
There is a lack of awareness among patients after FEP about oral health while patients are not able to adequately attend to their oral health and patients have high burden on this topic.

Implications for mental health nursing
To bridge the gap between patients’ needs regarding oral health, the awareness of patients and mental health professionals, should be heightened, and patients should be better supported by mental health professionals.