Abstract
The effectiveness of oral care by professionals hasbeen identified in several studies. However, so far investigations concerning the effects of oral care by nurses and caregivers at elderly-care facilities have not appeared. The purpose of this study was to examine the improvements of oral health through oral care provided by RNs and caregivers.
The study was an intervention study without a control group, comparing pre- and post-intervention measurements. The subjects were 29 elderly people in day-care service, and day-care staff (nurses and care workers). Care was provided once a week for 12 weeks. There was a 12-week control period before the study. Evaluation criteria were investigated at baseline, pre, and post-intervention. Adjusted baselines and covariates were used for statistical analyses of comparisons between pre- and post-intervention.
The results are as follows; the oral care index improved (p<0.001), the oral diadochokinesis improved in rower ADL score (p=0.05), but the moisture oralmucosa did not improve (p=0.2).
The study indicated that oral care once a week was effective for elderly day-care recipients even when implemented by nurses or caregivers.
