The LENTO study sample includes the caregivers and their clients living in eastern Finland. The aims of this study are 1. to study the nutritional status, oral health, coping, functional capacity and quality of life 2. to find out how individual nutrition and oral health counseling received for caregivers affect on the nutritional status and oral health of caregivers and their clients 3. develop an operating model to maintain good nutrition and oral health.
In Finland, the aim is to reduce the institutional care of older people and caring them in their own homes. The goal of shifting the focus of services to open services is difficult to implement if the health of the caregivers is inadequate. In order to achieve this goal, it is important to influence the health and performance of caregivers. Information is needed to support this, among others, about how the nutrition and oral health of caregivers can be promoted and to what extent this affects the performance and quality of life of their clients. A randomly of 220 caregivers over 65 years old and their clients is selected for this study. The caregivers are randomized to either treatment or control groups. At the beginning of the study is estimated the nutritional status and oral health of the caregivers. Based on the results, the nutritionist and dental hygienist give individual advice to optimize the nutrition and oral health of the caregivers in the intervention group. After six months, the same measurements are made as at the beginning of the study. Monitoring measurements will be made one year after the start of the intervention. The results of this project provide information on the health, well-being, and ability to the function of the caregivers. Based on the results, is developed an operating model that is intended to be wide as use as possible. Improving the nutrition and oral health of caregivers has a significant impact on their own and their clients health and well-being as well as the long-term care costs presumably.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
250
The interventions included individualised nutrition and oral health care.
University of Eastern Finland
Kuopio, Finland
Nutritional status
Change in MNA scores
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Albumin
Change in plasma albumin concentration
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Prealbumin
Change in plasma prealbumin concentration
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Body mass index (kg/m2)
Change in BMI
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Hand grip strength
Change in had grip strength of boot hands
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Number and location of teeth
Change in number and location of teeth
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Type and location of removable dental prosthesis
Change in type and location of removable dental prosthesis
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Oral mucosa
Change in oral mucosa
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Condition of teeth
Change in condition of teeth
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Presence of plaque
Change in presence of plaque
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Gingival bleeding and measurement of periodontal pockets
Change in gingival bleeding and measurement of periodontal pockets
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Dental and denture hygiene
Change dental and denture hygiene
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Subjective feeling of dry mouth and pain in mouth
Change in subjective feeling of dry mouth and pain in mouth
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Activities of Daily Living
Change in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scores
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Quality of Life (WHOQOL) -bref scores
Change in quality of Life (WHOQOL) -bref scores
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Depression
Change in Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-15 scores
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Cognition
Change in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Sense of coherence
Change in sense of coherence (SOC) scores
Time frame: Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)
Morbidity
Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI) scores
Time frame: Baseline
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