Improvement of Oral Health by Introduction of Oral Assessment (Oral Health Assessment Tool, OHAT) and Oral Care Protocol

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  • INAGAKI Ayumi
    Department of Nursing, Fujita Health University Hospital
  • MATSUO Koichiro
    Department of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University
  • IKEDA Mayumi
    Department of Nursing, Fujita Health University Hospital
  • ATSUMI Masako
    Department of Nursing, Fujita Health University Hospital
  • MIKI Tatsuto
    Department of Nursing, Fujita Health University Hospital
  • NAKAGAWA Kazuharu
    Department of Dentistry and Oral-Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Fujita Health University

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Other Title
  • 口腔アセスメントOral Health Assessment Tool（OHAT）と口腔ケアプロトコルによる口腔衛生状態の改善
  • コウコウ アセスメント Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT)ト コウコウ ケアプロトコル ニ ヨル コウコウ エイセイ ジョウタイ ノ カイゼン

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<p>Purpose:　The Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) is a simple oral health screening tool to assess oral health in dependent elderly individuals. In this study, we examined whether the oral health condition of hospitalized patients would be changed by an oral care protocol using OHAT. We also investigated the attitude of ward nurses to OHAT and the oral care protocol using a questionnaire to understand their feeling toward OHAT and the oral care protocol.</p><p>Methods:　A total of 35 patients were enrolled in this study from the neurology inpatient unit of a university hospital (mean age 73.7±13.1 years old). At admission, ward nurses performed oral assessment using OHAT, and, based on the OHAT score, the oral care plan was set and oral care was performed. Oral re-assessment was performed weekly, and the care plan was modified based on the OHAT score. At the timings of the first and final OHAT assessments, the amounts of oral bacteria on the tongue, palate and buccal vestibule were counted. The changes in the bacteria amount and OHAT scores from the first to the final assessment were compared with the Wilcoxon test.</p><p>Results:　Oral bacteria amounts tended to decrease on all three locations, and the difference was statistically significant on the buccal vestibule. For the OHAT score, the total score, and the scores of the lips, tongue, saliva, and cleanness were significantly decreased. Twelve patients (34%) were referred to a dental office as a result of the first OHAT assessment. From the questionnaire to ward nurses, all participants replied that OHAT and the oral care protocol were useful.</p><p>Conclusions:　Our results showed that oral health condition was improved by the oral care protocol from the improvement of OHAT scores. This suggests that OHAT is a useful indicator for oral health condition. Our findings also suggest that ward nurses had some understanding of oral assessment and protocols.</p>

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