Effects of comprehensive oral care on nasogastric tube removal in long-term care residents with dysphagia: A multi-center randomized controlled trial.

Ming-Yen Hsiao; Pei-Hsuan Shih; Tyng-Guey Wang

doi:10.1016/j.archger.2026.106350

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Effects of comprehensive oral care on nasogastric tube removal in long-term care residents with dysphagia: A multi-center randomized controlled trial.

Ming-Yen Hsiao·Pei-Hsuan Shih·Tyng-Guey Wang

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Abstract

Oral care is essential for residents in long-term care (LTC) facilities to reduce complications such as aspiration pneumonia. While routine oral hygiene is standard practice, comprehensive oral care (COC)-which includes facial and intraoral muscle massage, salivary gland stimulation, and oral moisturization-may further enhance swallowing function. However, evidence linking COC directly to nasogastric (NG) tube removal remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of COC in facilitating NG tube removal and improving swallowing function among LTC residents with dysphagia. A multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted across eight LTC facilities. The intervention group (n = 40) received daily one-on-one COC sessions lasting 30-40 min, while the control group (n = 37) received routine oral hygiene. Participants were followed for six months, with outcomes including NG tube removal, swallowing function, body weight, and pneumonia incidence. At six months, the COC group demonstrated a significantly higher NG tube removal rate, with eight participants achieving full oral intake (p = 0.005). Functional Oral Intake Scale scores were also significantly higher in the intervention group (p = 0.005). Time to NG tube removal ranged from 17 to 182 days. Under intention-to-treat principles, the NG tube removal rate remained significantly higher in the COC group (16.7%vs. 0%, p = 0.005). Competing risks analysis using the Aalen-Johansen estimator confirmed a 6-month cumulative incidence of NG tube removal of 14.6% in the COC group versus 0% in the control group (Gray's test: p = 0.005), with no significant between-group difference in mortality (p = 0.500). No significant differences were observed in body weight change or pneumonia incidence between groups. Among participants who successfully discontinued NG tube use, dementia was the most common underlying condition. These findings suggest that daily one-on-one COC is a feasible intervention in LTC settings and may improve swallowing function while facilitating NG tube removal in residents with dysphagia.

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Humans Deglutition Disorders Intubation, Gastrointestinal Female Long-Term Care Male Oral Hygiene Pneumonia, Aspiration Aged, 80 and over Nursing Home Residents Aged Device Removal Dysphagia Long-term care facilities Nasogastric tube Oral care Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study

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Ming-Yen Hsiao, Pei-Hsuan Shih, Tyng-Guey Wang. 2026-07-02. Effects of comprehensive oral care on nasogastric tube removal in long-term care residents with dysphagia: A multi-center randomized controlled trial.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2026.106350

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Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Multicenter Study resource Aged subject Aged, 80 and over subject Female subject Humans subject Intubation, Gastrointestinal subject Journal Article subject Male subject Multicenter Study subject Randomized controlled trials study dysphagia subject nasogastric tube subject

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