Rate My Professor Shennae Bartlett

Shennae Bartlett is an Assistant Research Fellow in the Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit (HePPRU) within the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington. Her research addresses critical gaps in oral health care for vulnerable populations, specifically focusing on enhancing nursing oral care practices for care-dependent older adults living in community settings. Bartlett collaborates with interdisciplinary teams including nursing, public health, and oral health experts to develop and evaluate training interventions aimed at improving knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and ultimately practice in oral hygiene support.

In a key pilot study published in the International Journal of Older People Nursing in November 2024, titled 'Improving Nursing Oral Care Practice for Community-Dwelling Care-Dependent Older People,' Bartlett contributed alongside researchers such as Keiko Oda, Nazahiah N. Bakri, Sarah Majeed, Murray W. Thomson, John Parsons, Michal Boyd, Anna C. Ferguson, and Moira Smith. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study delivered interprofessional oral healthcare and assessment training to 14 community-based nursing staff, followed by pre- and post-intervention questionnaires and a focus group with five participants. Results showed a statistically significant improvement in staff knowledge (p = 0.046), while attitudes and confidence scores remained unchanged quantitatively (p = 0.127); however, focus group feedback indicated heightened confidence and motivation for change. Participants emphasized the need for oral care as a core nursing competency, clearer role definitions, and implementation of practices to benefit client health at individual and organizational levels. The research, approved by the University of Otago Ethics Committee (H21/095), advocates for ongoing hands-on training and sustained collaboration between nursing and oral health professionals to transform knowledge into effective practice and elevate oral health outcomes for older adults. Bartlett also co-authored 'Improving nursing oral care practice for care-dependent older adults living in the community' in Kaitiaki Nursing Research (2023) and presented related findings at Knowledge Exchange 2024. Her work underscores the neglect of oral care in nursing and promotes evidence-based policy solutions.