Abstract:

Objective Investigating the effects of a multi-component oral exercise programme in improving oral function in elderly patients with oral weakness. Methods A multi-component oral exercise programme was constructed based on literature review and expert consultation. According to quasi-experimental research model，from May 2022 to December 2022 patients hospitalized in geriatrics department of a hospital in Zhejiang Province were selected as the participants. Ward A was the experimental group（n=48） and Ward B was the control group（n=48）. Participants in the experimental group got a 12-week multi-component oral exercise programme on the basis of routine nursing care，and the control group received routine care including oral health management and preaching，medication care，admission and discharge counselling and other routine care. Oral function and oral health self-efficacy were assessed before and after the intervention by repeating the saliva swallowing test，the oral alternating motion test，and the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Scale for Oral Health. Results A total of 45 cases in the test group and 45 cases in the control group have completed the intervention. After the intervention，the oral health self-efficacy score（Z=6.068，P<0.001），the results of the repeated saliva swallowing test （P=0.006），and the results of the oral alternating movement test（χ²=49.980，P<0.001） were statistically significant between groups. Conclusion A multicomponent oral exercise programme improves oral function and oral health self-efficacy in elderly patients with oral weakness.

Key words: Nursing, Oral function training, Elderly, Health education