Should we educate care staff to improve the oral health and oral hygiene of people with intellectual disability in residential care? Real world lessons from a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT This study assessed the impact of a multitiered oral health educational program on the oral health and oral hygiene of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). In a controlled pretest, posttest trial, with cluster randomization, a pyramidal training program was delivered to residential s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Special care in dentistry 2015-05, Vol.35 (3), p.92-98
Main Authors: Mac Giolla Phadraig, Caoimhin, Guerin, Suzanne, Nunn, June
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Clinical trials
Dental insurance
Dentistry
education
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
health promotion
Humans
Inservice Training
intellectual disabilities
Intellectual Disability
long term care
Male
oral health
Oral hygiene
Oral Hygiene - education
People with disabilities
prevention
Quality Improvement
Residential Facilities - manpower
Self Efficacy
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Summary:ABSTRACT This study assessed the impact of a multitiered oral health educational program on the oral health and oral hygiene of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). In a controlled pretest, posttest trial, with cluster randomization, a pyramidal training program was delivered to residential staff who cared for a randomly allocated, purposively stratified intervention group of people with ID living in community care homes. A control group lived in centers where staff received no training. Clinical measures were carried out pre‐ and posttest. Difference in Modified Gingival Index (MGI) and Plaque Index (PI) was measured posttest using ANCOVA. Seventy‐six participants took part, representing 49.0% of the invited sample (n = 155). Fourteen did not receive clinical examination. There was one dropout 6–9 months later. A 10.5% and 8.5% reduction in mean MGI and PI was evident at posttest but did not show statistically significant difference, when controlling for baseline covariates (p > 0.05, ANCOVA). Mean MGI and PI scores were not significantly different among people with ID whose care staff had and had not received oral health training. Limitations are discussed. The results indicate that this program failed to significantly improve oral health or oral hygiene, despite the intervention being “educationally” successful. More research is needed.
ISSN:0275-1879
1754-4505
DOI:10.1111/scd.12102