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Iowa nursing facility oral hygiene (INFOH) intervention: A clinical and microbiological pilot randomized trial
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Iowa nursing facility oral hygiene (INFOH) intervention: A clinical and microbiological pilot randomized trial

Leonardo Marchini, Erica Recker, Jennifer Hartshorn, Howard Cowen, David Lynch, David Drake, Derek R Blanchette, Deborah V Dawson, Michael Kanellis and Daniel Caplan
Special Care in Dentistry, Vol.38(6), pp.345-355
11/01/2018
DOI: 10.1111/scd.12327
PMCID: PMC6246798
PMID: 30194737

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Abstract

Purpose/aim The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate feasibility and gather initial data for a definitive study to test the clinical and microbiological effectiveness of a nursing facility (NF) customized oral hygiene protocol, intended to be delivered by dental hygienists and NF personnel. Materials and methods A convenience sample of 8 Eastern Iowa NFs was recruited, and each NF was assigned to one of three intervention groups: (1) control (current oral hygiene practice), (2) educational program only, and (3) educational program plus 1% chlorhexidine varnish monthly application. Demographic information, systemic health data, patient centered data, oral health data, and microbiology samples were collected at baseline and after 6 months. Results Recruitment response rates were 21% for NFs and 23% for residents. A total of 81 residents were examined at baseline and of those, 49 were examined at 6 months (39.5% attrition). There were no statistically or clinically significant differences among the intervention groups at 6 months for any of the recorded clinical or microbiological outcomes. Conclusions Recruitment and retention posed a significant challenge to this trial, even with a relatively short observation period. Results from this pilot study did not encourage further investigation of this customized oral hygiene protocol.
Nursing Homes aged frail elderly geriatric dentistry

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