BACKGROUND: No standard oral assessment tools are available for determining frequency of oral care in critical care patients, and the method of providing oral care is controversial. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of a systematic program of oral care on oral assessment scores in critically ill intubated and nonintubated, patients. METHODS: Clinical data were collected 3 times during critical care admissions before and after institution of a systematic program of oral care in 3 different medical centers. The oral care education program consisted of instruction from a dentist or dental hygienist and a clear procedure outlining systematic oral care. The Beck Oral Assessment Scale and the mucosal-plaque score were used to assess the oral cavity. Data were analyzed by using linear mixed modeling with controls for severity of illness. RESULTS: Scores on the Beck Scale differed significantly (F = 4.79, P = .01) in the pattern of scores across the 3 days and between the control group (before oral education) and the systematic oral care group. Unlike the control group, the treatment group had decreasing scores on the Beck Scale from day 1 to day 5. The mucosal-plaque score and the Beck Scale scores had strong correlations throughout the study; the highest correlation was on day 5 (r = 0.798, P < .001, n = 43). CONCLUSIONS: Oral assessment scores improved after nurses implemented a protocol for systematic oral care. Use of the Beck Scale and the mucosal-plaque score could standardize oral assessment and guide nurses in providing oral interventions.
BACKGROUND: No standard oral assessment tools are available for determining frequency of oral care in critical care patients, and the method of providing oral care is controversial. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of a systematic program of oral care on oral assessment scores in critically ill intubated and nonintubated, patients. METHODS: Clinical data were collected 3 times during critical care admissions before and after institution of a systematic program of oral care in 3 different medical centers. The oral care education program consisted of instruction from a dentist or dental hygienist and a clear procedure outlining systematic oral care. The Beck Oral Assessment Scale and the mucosal-plaque score were used to assess the oral cavity. Data were analyzed by using linear mixed modeling with controls for severity of illness. RESULTS: Scores on the Beck Scale differed significantly (F = 4.79, P = .01) in the pattern of scores across the 3 days and between the control group (before oral education) and the systematic oral care group. Unlike the control group, the treatment group had decreasing scores on the Beck Scale from day 1 to day 5. The mucosal-plaque score and the Beck Scale scores had strong correlations throughout the study; the highest correlation was on day 5 (r = 0.798, P < .001, n = 43). CONCLUSIONS: Oral assessment scores improved after nurses implemented a protocol for systematic oral care. Use of the Beck Scale and the mucosal-plaque score could standardize oral assessment and guide nurses in providing oral interventions.
Authors: Muriel Fartoukh; Bernard Maitre; Stephanie Honoré; Charles Cerf; Jean-Ralph Zahar; Christian Brun-Buisson Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2003-05-08 Impact factor: 21.405
Authors: Ian G Needleman; Nicholas P Hirsch; Michele Leemans; David R Moles; Michael Wilson; Derren R Ready; Salim Ismail; Lena Ciric; Michael J Shaw; Martin Smith; Anne Garner; Sally Wilson Journal: J Clin Periodontol Date: 2011-01-11 Impact factor: 8.728
Authors: Susan Houston; Paul Hougland; Jacqueline J Anderson; Mark LaRocco; Virginia Kennedy; Layne O Gentry Journal: Am J Crit Care Date: 2002-11 Impact factor: 2.228
Authors: Craig M Dale; Louise Rose; Sarah Carbone; Orla M Smith; Lisa Burry; Eddy Fan; Andre Carlos Kajdacsy-Balla Amaral; Victoria A McCredie; Ruxandra Pinto; Carlos R Quiñonez; Susan Sutherland; Damon C Scales; Brian H Cuthbertson Journal: Trials Date: 2019-10-24 Impact factor: 2.279