Dental nurses' experiences of performing a school-based fluoride varnish programme for children and adolescents in Sweden.

In many parts of Sweden today, school-based fluoride varnish programmes (FVP) are performed by dental nurses. Studies have shown that the dental personnel are largely responsible for creating the atmosphere related to children's and adolescents' experiences of the programmes. Knowledge of dental nurses' experiences of performing FVP is therefore crucial in order to develop and improve these programmes and the dental health of children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to describe dental nurses' experiences of performing FVP for children and adolescents in Sweden. Fifteen female dental nurses, strategically chosen, aged 40-63, from the Public Dental Service in the Vastra Gotaland Region, Sweden, were individually interviewed. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to the phenomenographic approach. Three themes with a total of-n categories, all describing the dental nurses' conceptions of performing FVP, emerged in the analysis. The main conclusions were that in overall terms, performing an FVP was found to be a positive experience for the dental nurses, as it meant meeting children and adolescents in a context in which the children and adolescents are comfortable and relaxed. The opportunity to identify children and adolescents with poor dental health or poor health and to be able to offer them assistance was regarded as a major advantage. In addition, the participants described a feeling of professional development originating from the challenges associated with working in an arena outside the dental clinic.