Impact of a CARE-ORIENT Education Program on Oral Hygiene Among Institutionalized Older Adults: A Double Blinded Cluster Randomized Controlled Study.

Gummalla Sreeja; Gaurav Mishra; Sumit Kumar; Vinay Kumar Gupta; Nishita Kankane; Sifpsa Diwakar; Aayushi Aggarwal; Aditya Agarwal; Deepak S

doi:10.1111/scd.70240

PubMed · 42706841

Impact of a CARE-ORIENT Education Program on Oral Hygiene Among Institutionalized Older Adults: A Double Blinded Cluster Randomized Controlled Study.

Gummalla Sreeja·Gaurav Mishra·Sumit Kumar·Vinay Kumar Gupta·Nishita Kankane·Sifpsa Diwakar·Aayushi Aggarwal·Aditya Agarwal·Deepak S

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Older adults residing in long-term care facilities often depend on caregivers for daily oral care. Inadequate caregiver training may contribute to poor plaque control and denture hygiene. METHODS: A six-month parallel-arm cluster randomized controlled study was conducted in selected long-term care facilities in Northern India. Two old age homes were randomly selected, with one allocated to the intervention group and the other to the control group. A total of 150 older adults and 46 caregivers participated. Caregivers in the intervention group received a structured caregiver oriented oral health education. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Outcomes included Debris Index, Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman Plaque Index, Denture Plaque Index and Denture Stomatitis Index. Caregiver knowledge and practice were evaluated using a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: Caregiver knowledge and practice scores improved significantly in the intervention group at 3 and 6 months. Significant differences were observed in Debris Index (DI), Plaque Index (PI), and Denture Plaque Index (DPI) in the intervention group over the six-month follow-up (p < 0.001). The Debris Index decreased from 2.76 ± 0.07 at baseline to 1.54 ± 0.05 at 6 months. Plaque Index scores declined from 3.26 ± 0.06 to 1.85 ± 0.08, and Denture Plaque Index scores reduced from 3.22 ± 0.03 to 1.74 ± 0.05. Denture Stomatitis Index improved over time; however, intergroup differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Structured caregiver-focused oral health education significantly improved oral hygiene among institutionalized older adults over six months, supporting integration of caregiver training within routine long-term care.

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Humans Oral Hygiene Aged Male Double-Blind Method Health Education, Dental Female India Caregivers Institutionalization Dental Plaque Index aged caregivers dental plaque denture stomatitis oral hygiene Journal Article Randomized Controlled Trial

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Gummalla Sreeja, Gaurav Mishra, Sumit Kumar, Vinay Kumar Gupta, Nishita Kankane, Sifpsa Diwakar, Aayushi Aggarwal, Aditya Agarwal, Deepak S. 2026. Impact of a CARE-ORIENT Education Program on Oral Hygiene Among Institutionalized Older Adults: A Double Blinded Cluster Randomized Controlled Study.. https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.70240

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Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial resource Aged subject Double-Blind Method subject Female subject Humans subject India subject Journal Article subject Male subject Randomized controlled trials study

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