2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Development of an oral care program to promote saliva secretion and to improve oral hygiene in elderly hemodialysis patients

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	19K10777
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 58050:Fundamental of nursing-related
Research Institution	Shimonoseki City University (2023) Fukuoka Prefectural University (2019-2022)
Principal Investigator	Furusho Natsuka 下関市立大学, 新学部設置準備室, 准教授 (70412690)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	前田ひとみ熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(保), 教授 (90183607) 岩崎正則北海道大学, 歯学研究院, 教授 (80584614) 粟野秀慈九州歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (20301442)
Project Period (FY)	2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Keywords	血液透析患者 / 口腔乾燥 / 口腔ケア / QOL / 介入研究
Outline of Final Research Achievements	In a fact-finding survey, we investigated intraoral and nutritional-related data and health-related QOL prior to intervention. Both oral-mucosa-fluid volume and awareness of dry mouth were low, indicating drier than average oral conditions. It was also revealed that the nutritional status and health-related QOL were low. After the fact-finding survey, we aimed to develop a program to promote saliva secretion. Our oral-care program was designed to be easily completed within the standard dialysis time used by medical professionals. Results from the intervention demonstrated improvements in dry-mouth sensation and nutritional-related data; an amelioration of mouth hemorrhages and oral inflammation; a decrease in the oral-bacterial count; reductions in fluid intake due to improvement of dry mouth, and a tendency to find eating easier. Additionally, positive changes in patient awareness and subsequent behavioral modifications for oral-care among patients were revealed.
Free Research Field	基礎看護学
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	本プログラムは医療従事者が透析中に行うものであるため，確実に患者にケアが提供でき，さらに，患者の口腔ケアに対する行動変容や意識の変化も確認できたことで，透析看護領域における新たな看護介入の方向性を示すことができた。透析患者は唾液分泌機能の低下や透析療法による対水分量の減少により口腔内は乾燥状態にあるが，本プログラムを実施することで口腔乾燥感の改善，口腔衛生状態の改善，栄養関連データの改善につながる可能性が示された。