Effectiveness of an oral function intervention for older Taiwanese people

• Published in: Gerodontology 2019-12, Vol.36 (4), p.374-381
• Main Authors: Ting, Chun‐Chan, Ko, Edward Chengchuan, Chen, Chih‐Chia, Chang, Wen‐Yao, Tu, Hsiao‐Pei, Chang, Chin‐Shun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Dentistry; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Geriatric/General Oral Health Assessment Index; Health Education, Dental; Humans; Male; oral diadochokinesia; oral function intervention; Oral Health; Quality of Life; Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0734-0664; 1741-2358
• DOI: 10.1111/ger.12412

Objective Oral function disorders occur often in older people with increasing age. Oral function disorders affect bodily function and self‐esteem, which are related to quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an oral function intervention programme on the oral function of older Taiwanese people. Materials and Methods A one‐group pretest‐post‐test study design was used. A total of 529 older Taiwanese people (women, 68.2%; men, 31.8%; average age, 75.07 ± 5.95 years) participated in this study. The oral function intervention programme consisted of a brief oral health education programme and oral function exercises. The total test period was 8 months. The oral condition and function examination comprised two questionnaires (self‐reported symptoms of oral function disturbance and the Geriatric/General Oral Health Assessment Index [GOHAI]) and three oral function assessments (Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test [RSST], Oral Diadochokinesia Test [ODT] and Cheek Expanding Test [CET]). Results After the oral function intervention, the self‐reported symptoms on the oral function questionnaire and GOHAI showed significant improvement (P