In the present study, the investigators aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based oral exercise with LHA intervention on the oral health-related quality of life, oral function and oral self-care behaviors. This randomized controlled trial included LHA group (EG) and leaflet group (CG), respectively. The EG received a four-week one-on-one session by an LHA. Baseline and follow-up data collection were used to collect the data in oral Self-care behaviors, oral hygiene, oral function and quality of life.
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. The participants recruited from aboriginal communities in Eastern Taiwan. Data collecting time was from 2019 to 2020. Participants from the identified communities were randomly assigned to EG or CG using random table. Participants who were 55 years old or above and indigenous people were recruited in the study. Participants who were disability, have had oral cancer, impaired facial appearance and impaired cognitive function were excluded. Impaired cognitive function was screening by Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Participants were recruited according to the predetermined minimal sample size estimated based on a type I error = 0.05, power = 0.95, and effect size (ES) f = 0.25 (medium effect in Cohen's f) . The number of samples in each group was expected 66 participants. An additional 30% drop out rate was added. The final number of samples for each group were required at least 86 participants. The total sample size was 122 and 118 in EG and CG, respectively. All participants underwent data collection at baseline and at 2-week, 3-and 6-month follow-ups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
240
The participants in the EG received 4 lessons from a LHA over 4 weeks. Four lessons were taught one-on-one once a week by a certified LHA at the participants' homes. The lessons including understand oral structure, learn oral self-care skills and oral function promotion, understand the status of oral self-care and the relationship between oral diseases and systemic diseases, understand swallowing dysfunction and safe eating skills and review.
Oral exercise intervention is designed to increase the range of movement in tongue, lips, and jaw as well as salivary gland massages, which will help speech and/or swallow functioning. All participants performed oral exercise before three meals a day.
Kaohsiung Medical University
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Oral health-related quality of life
OHRQoL was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) , which was translated into Chinese for the participants (GOHAI-T). For example, "Are you satisfied or happy with the appearance of your teeth, gums or dentures?" Possible responses were range from 1 (always) to 5 (never). The total score ranged from 12 to 60 points. The higher the score, the better the quality of life. Cronbach's alpha was 0.75 for the scale.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Swallowing
The Repetitive Saliva-Swallowing Test (RSST) was used to evaluate swallowing. Participants were asked to swallow saliva as many times as possible in 30 seconds.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
syllable /pa/, /ta/ and /ka/
For oral diadochokinesis (DDK), the participants were asked to repeat the /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ syllables as quickly as possible, and the number of articulations was counted. Using a digital counter, we separately counted the number of articulations of the /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ syllables within 10 seconds.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Masticatory performance
Masticatory performance was evaluated using the color-changeable chewing gum (Xylitol, 3.0 g Lotte, Saitama, Japan). This chewing gum contains xylitol, citric acid, and red, yellow, and blue dyes that change color when subjected to masticatory forces from chewing. The red dye is pH sensitive and changes color under neutral or alkaline conditions. Citric acid maintains a low internal pH of the yellowish-green gum before chewing commences. The gum changes to red when chewed because the yellow and blue dyes seep into saliva, and citric acid elution produces the red color. Participants were asked to chew for 2 minutes. Two minutes later, the observer checked the color of the gum by using a color chart of five color gradations ranging from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good).
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Saliva flow rate
Saliva flow rate was measured the saliva flow rate in one minute (ml/min). Participants were asked to chew the gauze for two minutes and spited out the gauze and saliva back into the test tube. After centrifuging the saliva of the gauze, pour the saliva into a measuring tube to measure the volume of the saliva.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Perceived dysphagia
Perceived dysphagia, which was defined as a subjective perception of problems swallowing, was measured using the swallowing screening scale developed by Ohkuma and has an internal consistency Cronbachα's alpha coefficient of 0.85. Examples of questions included "Do you ever have difficulty swallowing?" "Do you ever have difficulty as a result of cough up phlegm during or after a meal?" "Does it take you longer to eat a meal than it used to?" "Do you feel that it is becoming difficult to eat solid foods?" and "Do you ever have difficulty sleeping because of coughing during the night?" Possible responses were "obviously" (frequently), "slightly" (sometimes), or "no" (never). Respondents with at least one severe symptom were classified as having dysphagia.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Plaque control record (PCR)
Plaque control record (PCR) was measured the percentage of tooth surface with plaque. PCR range from 0 to 100%.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Plaque index (PI)
Plaque index (PI) was measured the six indicator teeth 12, 16, 24, 32, 36, 44 and the score for each tooth is range from 0 to 3 (0 = no plaque, 1 = a film of plaque adhering to the free gingival margin and adjacent area of the tooth, 2 = moderate accumulation of soft deposit s within the gingival pocket, or the tooth and gingival margin which can be seen with the naked eye, 3 = abundance of soft matter within the gingival pocket and/or on the tooth and gingival margin). Then summing the average of 6 indicators teeth.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI)
Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI) was measured the accumulation of coating on the surface of the tongue. The tongue was divided into six areas (three posterior and three anterior), and the coating was scored as 0 = no coating, 1 = light coating, or 2 = severe coating; scores ranged from 0 to 12 points.
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Regular dental visit
The question of dental visit, "Do you see a dentist every six months?" Possible responses were "Yes", "No".
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Brushing ≥2 times/day
The question of tooth-brushing, "How many times do you brush your teeth a day?" Possible responses were "None", "One time", "Two times" and "More than 3 times".
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Use of interdental brushes
The question of interdental brush, "Do you use an interdental brush every day?" Possible responses were "Yes", "No" and "Never heard".
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
Use of dental floss
The question of flossing, "Do you use dental floss every day?" Possible responses were "Yes", "No" and "Never heard".
Time frame: Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention
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