J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2010 Aug;17(3):324-333.

Comparison of Oral Care Interventions on the Oral Status of Intubated Patients in Intensive Care Units

• Park JH
• Sohng KY

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three different oral care treatments on the oral state of patients with intubation in intensive care units.
METHODS
The research design was a nonequivalent control group design with repeated measures. The patients were assigned a normal saline, chlorhexidine or toothbrushing group. Each group received its own oral care treatment for 5 minutes, twice a day and for 8 days. The oral assessment guide, hygiene performance index and pathogenic microorganisms. Data were collected from patients before the experiment, 4 days after, and 8 days after completion and were evaluated.
RESULTS
The chlorhexidine group and tooth brushing group showed significant improvement on the oral assessment guide and decrease in the hygiene performance index, compared to the normal saline group. Similarly, pathogenic microorganisms were significantly decreased in the chlorhexidine group and tooth brushing group, when compared to the normal saline group.
CONCLUSIONS
Oral treatments with chlorhexidine and toothbrushing improve the oral health state of patients, therefore use of chlorhexidine and toothbrushing could be an effective nursing intervention for intubated patients in intensive care units.

Keyword

Oral Hygiene; Saline Solution; Chlorhexidine

MeSH Terms

Chlorhexidine
Humans
Hygiene
Critical Care
Intensive Care Units
Intubation
Oral Health
Oral Hygiene
Research Design
Sodium Chloride
Tooth
Toothbrushing
Chlorhexidine
Sodium Chloride