Establishing and Evaluating the Effectiveness of AAT for Residents in Nursing Home

AAT is one of the complementary therapies in nursing homes. However, nurses lack related evidence – based AAT. The purpose of this project was to translate the best available evidence in order to improve residents’ well-being. There were four stages in this project. The first stage conducted a systematic review to identify the best available evidences on AAT. The second stage was discussed step by step according to the protocol for audit. The third stage was to educate multidisciplinary personnel to implement the protocol AAT. Lastly, we implemented the AAT protocol and compared the pre- and post- physiological, psychological and social score of residents to evaluate the effectiveness of AAT protocol. Eight residents completed the pretest and the first, second, and third posttest audits. Result from paired-t tests found significant improvements in residents’ physiological, psychological and social score. The project supports that AAT may effectively improve well-being for residents in nursing home

The concept of health and health behaviour in Chinese people with chronic illness

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Effects of a Multifaceted Intervention Program on the Eating Ability of Nursing Home Residents

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a common problem for nursing home residents that leads to aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. Musculature surrounding head and neck and tongue strength are crucial for safe and efficient oropharyngeal swallowing. Oral hygiene facilitates the smooth swallowing. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the effects of a multifaceted intervention program which combines the interactive oral activities, tongue strength training and oral cleaning procedure on the eating ability of nursing home residents. A sequential, multiple time series, single-group quasi-experimental research design was used, and 41 residents were recruited to participate in this study. The study was divided into three phases, each lasting two months. In phase 1, the participants were conducting their usual activities, except that the outcome variables were measured on five occasions to obtain baseline data. Phase 2 was a two-month washout period, and phase 3 was the intervention period. Thirty-six residents completed phase 1, and 34 residents completed the phase 3 intervention period. The eight-week phase 3 intervention program comprised three sessions per day, conducted seven days a week, with each session lasting 15–20 min. Outcome variables were measured at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 in phases 1 and 3 to evaluate the feasibility of the program. Following the intervention program, controlling for baseline differences, the patients’ tongue strength, food consumption, mealtime duration, oral health, and dysphagia severity were significantly improved in phase 3 relative to phase 1. These improvements lasted through to at least 2 months posttest. The study illustrates that this multifaceted intervention program may be an effective approach for improving the eating ability of nursing home residents

Analysis of Labial and Lingual Strength among Healthy Chinese Adults in Taiwan

This study collected 11 parameters regarding the labial and lingual strength for maximum isometric and swallowing tasks among 150 healthy Chinese adults in Taiwan. Measurements were performed using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI). All of the labial and lingual strength parameters were measured three times. The maximal value of three trials represents the pressure of every parameter. The overall mean (±standard deviation) and maximum isometric pressures of the lips, anterior tongue, and posterior tongue were 24.81 ± 5.64, 55.95 ± 14.13, and 53.23 ± 12.24 kPa, respectively. The mean value of posterior tongue strength was less than that of the anterior tongue by approximately 5%. The percentages of maximum isometric tongue pressure during the swallowing of saliva and water were 85% and 80% for the anterior tongue and 90% and 81% for the posterior tongue, respectively. The average endurances for the anterior tongue and posterior tongue were 13.86 ± 7.08 and 10.06 ± 5.40 s, respectively. The maximum isometric pressures were greater than both the saliva and water swallowing pressures, and the saliva swallowing pressures were greater than the water swallowing pressures. A value of 33 kPa in maximum isometric pressure could serve as a demarcation of weak tongue strength for healthy Chinese adults. As for the repeated trials of labial and lingual strength, there were no statistically significant differences for any of the pressures obtained from the 11 labial and lingual strength parameters. The normative data can be used for the objective assessment of labial and lingual strength in healthy Chinese adults

Evaluation of an Oral Hygiene Education Program for Staff Providing Long-Term Care Services: A Mixed Methods Study

Background: Oral hygiene is often neglected in clients receiving long-term care, suggesting that long-term care workers require formal oral hygiene education. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral hygiene education on long-term care workers. Methods: This study utilized a mixed methods design. Eighty long-term care workers were recruited for participation in the oral hygiene education program, which employed three teaching methods: narration with multimedia presentation, demonstration, and teach-back. The effect of the education program on the participants’ level of oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and skills was measured using a structured questionnaire that was administered both pre- and post-delivery of the education program. Three months later, all participants submitted a self-report of their oral hygiene skills, and six participants completed a telephone interview. Quantitative data were analyzed using paired t-tests, and qualitative data were manually analyzed and coded. Results: Scores of oral hygiene knowledge (p < 0.001), attitudes (p = 0.001), and oral cleaning daily frequency for clients (p < 0.001), were significantly higher three months after undertaking the educational program. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that oral hygiene education may be effective in improving oral hygiene knowledge, attitudes, and skills among long-term care staff

Age and Sex-Related Differences in the Tongue Pressure Generated during Maximum Isometric and Swallowing Tasks by Healthy Chinese Adults

The aims of this prospective observational study were to investigate age, sex, and factors related to the tongue pressure generated. A correlational research design was used. A total of 150 Chinese people who had a normal swallowing condition were enrolled by convenience sampling. Pressure was measured for each participant during maximum isometric press tasks, as well as for saliva and water swallows (5 mL) at the anterior and posterior tongue. The results illustrated that age has an impact on anterior tongue pressure (r = −0.22), posterior tongue pressure (r = −0.26); however, it does not have an impact on the swallowing pressure (SP) of the tongue. Sex differences were noted; males demonstrated a greater strength of the anterior tongue. There was a significant correlation between BMI and the maximum isometric pressure of the anterior tongue (MIPant). The pressures between anterior and posterior tongue were not significantly different in the maximum isometric or swallowing tasks. There were significant differences among the maximum isometric pressure (MIP), saliva swallowing pressure, and water swallowing pressure. The MIP generated was greater than the pressure in the swallowing tasks for the younger groups of both sexes. The study supplement the exploration of age-and-sex related differences and the interaction of sex and age in tongue pressure