The Effectiveness of Auricular Acupuncture on Improving Secretion of Saliva Among Institutional Older Population

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study aims to examine the effect of auricular acupuncture on improving oral health in older population. The hypothesis of this study is that older people receiving auricular acupuncture can increase salivary secretion. By identifying the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture can increase salivary secretion; suitable care can be suggested to improve oral health in older population living in long-term institutions.

Detailed Description
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The elderly living in long-term institutions are mostly limited to physical dysfunction and highly dependence. In addition, the chronic diseases are affected by taking a variety of drugs, which may easily lead to dry mouth. Thus, providing oral health to increase secretion of saliva is high recommended to those older population. The study is used to examine the effect of auricular acupuncture on improving oral health in older population. The eligible participants are random assign to experimental group receiving auricular acupuncture and control group having ineffective auricular acupuncture. Outcome measures include demographic variables, general health status and secretion of saliva, such as: Subjective dry mouth condition and objective mouth condition. Generalized linear model will be used to examine the effect of auricular acupuncture on improving oral health. By identifying the effectiveness of auricular acupuncture can increase salivary secretion; suitable care can be suggested to improve oral health in older population living in long-term institutions.

Official Title
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The Effectiveness of Auricular Acupuncture on Improving Secretion of Saliva Among Institutional Older Population

Conditions
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Salivary Gland Diseases

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: True auricular acupuncture
* Other: sham auricular acupuncture


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Residents in long-term institutions aged over 65 years old Living in long-term institutions at least six months and above Having normal cognitive functions with Mini-Mental State Examination scores more than 25 scores. Exclusion Criteria: The resident whose acupuncture point has Trauma, eczema or ulcer. Incapable of salivary secretion caused by disease,sush as radiation-induced xerostomia among patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Sjogren's Syndrome,acute sialadenitis,chronic recurrent sialadenitis,viral salivary gland infection,salivary gland stones.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: True auricular acupuncture<br>Effective auricular acupuncture | Other: True auricular acupuncture<br>* The participant in experimental group will receive acupuncture on ear Shenmen point, ear zero point, and Salivary glands.<br>|
| Sham Comparator: Sham auricular acupuncture<br>Ineffective auricular acupuncture | Other: sham auricular acupuncture<br>* The participant in control group will receive acupuncture on ineffective point at ear.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subjective dry mouth health | self-rated salivation | pre-test and post-test | 
| Objective dry mouth health | Salivation measured by Oral moisture meter | pre-test and post-test |