Impact of carer interventions on oral health outcomes in older adults : a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction: Oral health is a critical aspect of overall health for elderly individuals, particularly in residential care settings where they are susceptible to oral health issues. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of dental training programs for carers by measuring changes in their knowledge and confidence in oral care provision. Additionally, it sought to explore the relationship between carer training and oral health outcomes among elderly residents. Methodology: Two private residential homes participated in the study. Healthcare professionals providing daily care services received training, followed by assessments using a questionnaire at three points: pre-training, post-training, and six months later. The intervention group received oral health presentations, workshops, and additional supporting materials, while the control group was provided with standard presentations. Oral health assessments were conducted on 149 older adult residents who were further grouped into three dependency groups (High-dependency (HD),Semi-dependency (SD) and Low-dependency (LD)) using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) and the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) over a six-month observation period. Results: The findings indicate a significant increase in carers' knowledge in both groups over the different follow ups (p<0.001). At T1, OHAT scores of SD residents showed a statistically significant difference (p=0.02) between the control and intervention groups. OHI-S scores were significantly higher in SD and HD residents indicating poorer oral health with improvements seen over time. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that targeted training for carers can lead to improved oral health outcomes for elderly residents. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing education for caregivers in long-term care settings.