The Effectiveness of Lay Health Advisors Strategy Intervention on Aborigines Elderly Oral Care Education
Condition: Oral Health
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      In the present study, the investigators aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of
      community-based oral exercise with LHA intervention on the oral health-related quality of
      life, oral function and oral self-care behaviors. This randomized controlled trial included
      LHA group (EG) and leaflet group (CG), respectively. The EG received a four-week one-on-one
      session by an LHA. Baseline and follow-up data collection were used to collect the data in
      oral Self-care behaviors, oral hygiene, oral function and quality of life.
    

Detailed description: 
      A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. The participants recruited from aboriginal
      communities in Eastern Taiwan. Data collecting time was from 2019 to 2020. Participants from
      the identified communities were randomly assigned to EG or CG using random table.
      Participants who were 55 years old or above and indigenous people were recruited in the
      study. Participants who were disability, have had oral cancer, impaired facial appearance and
      impaired cognitive function were excluded. Impaired cognitive function was screening by Short
      Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). Participants were recruited according to the
      predetermined minimal sample size estimated based on a type I error = 0.05, power = 0.95, and
      effect size (ES) f = 0.25 (medium effect in Cohen's f) . The number of samples in each group
      was expected 66 participants. An additional 30% drop out rate was added. The final number of
      samples for each group were required at least 86 participants. The total sample size was 122
      and 118 in EG and CG, respectively. All participants underwent data collection at baseline
      and at 2-week, 3-and 6-month follow-ups.
    

Intervention name(s): LHA intervention; Oral exercise intervention
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The participants in the EG received 4 lessons from a LHA over 4 weeks. Four lessons were taught one-on-one once a week by a certified LHA at the participants' homes. The lessons including understand oral structure, learn oral self-care skills and oral function promotion, understand the status of oral self-care and the relationship between oral diseases and systemic diseases, understand swallowing dysfunction and safe eating skills and review.; Oral exercise intervention is designed to increase the range of movement in tongue, lips, and jaw as well as salivary gland massages, which will help speech and/or swallow functioning. All participants performed oral exercise before three meals a day.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted. The participants recruited from aboriginal communities in Eastern Taiwan. Data collecting time was from 2019 to 2020. Participants from the identified communities were randomly assigned to experimental group or control group using random table.
Masking: Single (Participant)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Aboriginal; Lay Health Advisor; Oral Hygiene; Quality of Life; Oral Function