Effect of an Oral Health Programme on Oral Health, Oral Intake, and Nutrition in Patients with Stroke and Dysphagia in Taiwan: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Hsiao-Jung Chen, Jean-Lon Chen, Chung-Yao Chen, Megan Lee, Wei-Han Chang and Tzu-Ting Huang
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Hsiao-Jung Chen: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Nursing, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33378 Taiwan
Jean-Lon Chen: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City 33378, Taiwan
Chung-Yao Chen: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33378, Taiwan
Megan Lee: Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98134, USA
Wei-Han Chang: Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan City 33378, Taiwan
Tzu-Ting Huang: School of Nursing, Healthy Aging Research Center School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 33378, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: No previous studies have evaluated an oral health programme, before swallowing therapy, in patients with stroke and dysphagia in Taiwan. This randomised controlled trial evaluated the effect of an oral health programme (i.e., sputum assessment, Bass method-based tooth brushing, and tooth coating with fluoride toothpaste) before swallowing therapy. Sixty-six patients with stroke (23 female, 43 male) in our rehabilitation ward, who underwent nasogastric tube insertion, were assigned randomly to an oral care group ( n = 33) and a control group ( n = 33). Demographic data, oral health assessment, Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores, Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) scores, and nasogastric tube removal rates were compared between groups. We evaluated outcomes using generalised estimating equation analysis. Three weeks post-implementation, the oral care group had significant oral health improvements relative to the control group (95% CI =−2.69 to −1.25, Wald χ 2 = 29.02, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the FOIS (95% CI = −0.16 to 0.89, Wald χ 2 = 1.86, p > 0.05), MNA-SF (95% CI =−0.35 to 0.53, Wald χ 2 =−0.17, p > 0.05), and nasogastric tube removal ( p > 0.05) between groups. The oral care group had a higher, but non-significant FOIS score (3.94 vs 3.52) ( p > 0.05). Routine oral health programmes implemented during stroke rehabilitation in patients with dysphagia may promote oral health and maintain oral intake.

Keywords: oral health; oral intake; stroke; dysphagia; randomised controlled trial (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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