A Pilot Observation and Feasibility Study of Prevora, Integrated Into Homecare Visits of High-risk Adults

Prevora is an antiseptic medication and dental treatment approved by Health Canada for reducing root decay (cavities) in adults at high risk of dental decay. An antiseptic kills germs and harmful bacteria. Prevora is applied to the teeth and gumline by a medical professional, takes about 10 minutes and is painless.

Participating site(s) have a homecare program and usual care includes offering patients home care services before discharge from the hospital for some chronic diseases. Usual care includes home visits by a nurse and or personal support worker (PSW).

The aim of this study is to explore the effectiveness, health benefits and feasibility of delivering preventive oral healthcare with Prevora, during a homecare visit by a nurse or PSW. All consenting and eligible subjects will continue with their usual care with the homecare program. The study is 5 months long. Subjects will have a Prevora treatment applied by the homecare nurse or PSW on Day 1, 14 days, 3 months and 4 months. The study includes several follow up visits which will be conducted in the patient's home and or by telephone or videoconferencing if needed. Oral exams, lab tests and subject completed questionnaires will be collected for the study. Changes in medications and any possible side effects will also be monitored during the study.

Poor oral health and specifically, inflammation of the gums is linked to respiratory problems, heart problems and inflammation through the body. Worsening oral health and inflammation of the gums occurs often in patients with chronic diseases who are hospitalized and often continues after discharge from the hospital. This can make health recovery more difficult for the patient.

This is a 5 month, prospective, single-arm, open-label, observational and feasibility, phase IV trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Prevora and is focused on the integration of a preventive oral healthcare service into a hospital-based home healthcare program involving high-risk adults with COPD or CHF or on dialysis, and possibly other chronic metabolic conditions, which make the patient suitable for entry into a home care program. This study will be centrally coordinated by the Research Institute at St Joes and conducted in the homes of consenting and eligible participants in the greater Hamilton, Ontario area.

Approximately 30 subjects will be enrolled in the study which is defined as starting the investigational product. All subjects will continue to receive the usual care that is provided as part of the respective home care program. After signed consent is obtained, subject screening and eligibility assessments will begin. Once a subject is confirmed to be eligible for study participation, investigational product treatment applications and study visits will be scheduled starting with Day 1.

Follow up visits will occur 14 days, 1, 3, 4 and 5 months after Day 1. A delegated and trained homecare nurse or PSW will apply the investigational product during the study visits conducted on day 1, day 14, 3 and 4 months. Study visits will be scheduled at the same time as a standard of care (SOC) home visit or as a study visit only, independent of a SOC home visit. Study visits include evaluation of study outcomes/endpoints, subject completed questionnaires and measuring compliance. Changes in medications and any possible side effects will also be monitored during the study. Data will be captured in the case report form (CRF).

To qualify, men and women must be enrolled in the home healthcare services program. All participants will receive the study intervention (Prevora) and be followed for 5 months.

This study aims to demonstrate that in subjects who receive home healthcare visits and have COPD and/or CHF or on dialysis, and with moderate to severe forms of chronic oral inflammation, the investigational product (Prevora) will significantly decrease oral inflammation over time.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* ≥ 18 years of age
* Enrollment in the homecare COPD/CHF program or who possibly have other medical conditions such as on dialysis or chronic metabolic condition (e.g. diabetes, hypertension) suitable for entry into the home care program
* Bleeding on probing at ≥ 12 sites at Screening
* Minimum of 10 natural teeth
* Willing and able to provide informed consent as per International Conference on Harmonization - Good Clinical Practices Guidelines (ICH-GCP E6(R2)) and applicable regulations.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Currently smoking one or more cigarettes per day
* Patients with a prosthetic heart valve
* Active visual caries which, in the judgement of the investigators, could require surgical restoration or extraction, and referral to a dentist on an urgent basis
* Severe periodontal disease which, in the judgement of the investigators, could require surgery or a level of periodontal scaling such that participation in the study will be delayed
* Undergoing periodontal care by a dentist or hygienist which in the judgement of the investigators could confound the study results
* Known allergies to the ingredients of the study medications (chlorhexidine, Sumatra benzoin, ethanol and polymethylmethacrylate)
* Taking medications for periodontal conditions (e.g., Periostat, chlorhexidine rinse, PerioChip or Arestin).
* Uncontrolled seizure disorder
* A gag reflex
* Cancer that is in an active stage of treatment or has been treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation in the past year or in the next 12 months
* Behavioural disorders which in the judgement of the investigators threaten the patient's tolerance to treatment and participation in the study
* Involved in another drug trial
* Not able to complete subject reported, self-administered questionnaires or not able have a caregiver complete these questionnaires, or cannot fully understand all instructions in English