2014 Volume 18 Issue 1 Pages 3-12
Purpose: We developed a simple-version oral health care assessment sheet for caregivers, and verified its reliability and validity.
Materials and Methods: The newly developed assessment sheet consists of 10 items to screen for dysphagia selected from the “Seirei Swallowing Questionnaire” and 10 items to evaluate oral hygiene, oral function and the risk for oral health care. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the assessment sheet using the original data which were collected when the questionnaire was developed, and examined the criteria for screening of dysphagia. Thirty-four caregivers (mean nursing experience 6.0 years) assessed 143 residents (mean age 86.6) of three nursing homes using the assessment sheet. The evaluation results were analyzed and verified the reliability and validity and examined the criteria for screening of dysphagia.
Results and Discussion: The screening criterion “if responding worst answer A to any item for dysphagia screening, then dysphagia” revealed sensitivity of 86.0% and specificity of 88.9% to the original data. Adding the cut-off value “if more than 4 points for the total screening score (maximum 20 points), then dysphagia” to the criterion enhanced the sensitivity. No significant differences were found in the career of caregivers and disability level of the residents among the three nursing homes. Upon analyzing actual assessment results using the assessment sheet, no significant differences were found in the scores of oral hygiene, oral function and dysphagia items among the three facilities.
The reliability and validity of this assessment sheet as a screening tool for dysphagia were as high as those of the Seirei Swallowing Questionnaire. The consistent assessment results among the three facilities are considered to be the result of listing evaluation criteria such as photos and commentary for non dental professionals.
The prevalence of dysphagia in the three nursing homes was similar to that in other nursing homes in Japan and abroad concerning the criteria “if responding worst answer A to any item for dysphagia screening, then dysphagia” or “if more than 4 points for the total screening score, then dysphagia”. These results suggest the usefulness of the new developed simple-version oral health care assessment sheet.
