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Aim This review aimed to evaluate the effects of multisensory environments/stimulation (MSE/MSS) therapy, on the behavior and psychological symptoms in adults with cognitive impairment and/or special needs. Methods Online database searches were performed to identify studies reporting on the effects of MSS/MSE therapy in adults (>18 years). Data were extracted for the following investigated outcomes including anxiety, depression, mood, behavioral attributes, biomedical parameters, cognition, motor skills, quality of life (QoL), pain, and end of life quality. Two reciprocally blinded investigators extracted the data. Inter-investigator reliability (?) was calculated. A meta-analysis and a qualitative analysis were performed on the information extracted. Results Thirty-six studies were included for data extraction and analysis. Meta-analysis of the included studies revealed a significant improvement with the MSE/MSS therapy, for agitation (p = .018), anxiety (p = .023), cognition (p < .001), and depression (p < .001). MSS/MSE therapy demonstrated a tendency for the improvement of the QoL in adults (p = .05). Conclusion MSE/MSS therapies are beneficial in cognitively impaired adults and improve their anxiety, depression, cognitive and other behavioral attributes such as agitative behaviors. Promoting these therapies in geriatric care may help to improve/reduce the challenging/care-resistant behaviors in adults and facilitate effective provision of the necessary care.

OBJECTIVES Maintaining the oral health of dependent older adults is challenging, with limited access to dental care and limited focus on preventive oral health programmes. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of General Dental Practitioners (GDPs), working in Switzerland, to caring for dependent older adults with a focus on the use of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as a caries preventive agent and more widely on the provision of domiciliary dental care (DDC). METHODS Seventeen GDPs working in Switzerland were interviewed. Each interview was semi-structured by a topic guide, digitally recorded, and transcribed. The transcribed data were analysed using a thematic analysis. RESULTS Three major themes to the widespread use of SDF in this population were identified: lack of basic knowledge including indications for use; aesthetic concerns and product availability. Those who had knowledge about the product believed that using it in the treatment of frail older adults had advantages, especially in the preservation and/or prolongation of the life of teeth without invasive treatments. The biggest barrier was its availability. The GDPs identified three major barriers related to DDC provision: lack of infrastructure, poor financial rewards and safety concerns (patient and operator safety). Those who provided this service stated that they were doing it because of self-motivation, kindness, or as a role in community service. CONCLUSIONS The potential use of SDF was viewed positively by the majority of the GDPs interviewed but confusion exists over its availability in Switzerland, and other barriers were identified to more widespread use in this patient group. The GDPs interviewed in this study reported that a lack of infrastructure and a low level of remuneration continue to be barriers to more of them undertaking DDC for dependent older adults.

Objective This questionnaire‐based survey assessed the attitudes of dental hygiene students towards treating elderly patients. Methods The 14‐item Geriatric Attitude Scale (GAS‐14) questionnaire was used in this survey. A further set of 9 questions evaluated the opinions of the students towards the existing geriatric curriculum in their respective institutions. Students from five dental hygiene schools from three countries (Switzerland, Belgium, Canada) participated in this survey. General demographic information from the participants were collected. Mean GAS‐14 scores were calculated; ANOVA and Bonferroni tests were used for statistical analyses (p<0.05). Results 385 students (Switzerland: n=157, mean‐age=25.38±4.6y, Belgium: n=82, mean‐age=27.58±12.8y; Canada: n=146, mean‐age=25.95±12.3y) completed the survey for a response rate of 86.3%. The overall GAS‐14 scores for Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada were 3.61±0.42, 3.24±0.37, and 3.32±0.36, respectively. Switzerland scored significantly higher than Belgium and Canada (p<0.0001). Overall scores revealed a significant effect of progressive training (p=0.010). The GAS‐14 score was influenced by the nationality of the participants (p<0.0001), but not influenced by sex, age, origin, religion, marital‐, and accommodation‐, statuses. Majority of the students (75.8%) agreed that geriatric dentistry was an important part of their education. 77.4% agreed that they would like hands‐on experience in treating the elderly patient during their education. 85.1% of the participants considered mobile dental clinics as a good solution for the provision of dental care to the institutionalized elders. Conclusions The general attitudes of DH students towards treating the elderly patients are on an acceptable level and improved as they progressed through their dental hygiene academic programs.