Outcome
Type |
Measure |
Description |
Time frame |
Safety issue |
Primary |
Oral health-related quality of life |
OHRQoL was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) , which was translated into Chinese for the participants (GOHAI-T). For example, "Are you satisfied or happy with the appearance of your teeth, gums or dentures?" Possible responses were range from 1 (always) to 5 (never). The total score ranged from 12 to 60 points. The higher the score, the better the quality of life. Cronbach's alpha was 0.75 for the scale. |
Change from baseline at 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Swallowing |
The Repetitive Saliva-Swallowing Test (RSST) was used to evaluate swallowing. Participants were asked to swallow saliva as many times as possible in 30 seconds. |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
syllable /pa/, /ta/ and /ka/ |
For oral diadochokinesis (DDK), the participants were asked to repeat the /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ syllables as quickly as possible, and the number of articulations was counted. Using a digital counter, we separately counted the number of articulations of the /pa/, /ta/, and /ka/ syllables within 10 seconds. |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Masticatory performance |
Masticatory performance was evaluated using the color-changeable chewing gum (Xylitol, 3.0 g Lotte, Saitama, Japan). This chewing gum contains xylitol, citric acid, and red, yellow, and blue dyes that change color when subjected to masticatory forces from chewing. The red dye is pH sensitive and changes color under neutral or alkaline conditions. Citric acid maintains a low internal pH of the yellowish-green gum before chewing commences. The gum changes to red when chewed because the yellow and blue dyes seep into saliva, and citric acid elution produces the red color. Participants were asked to chew for 2 minutes. Two minutes later, the observer checked the color of the gum by using a color chart of five color gradations ranging from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Saliva flow rate |
Saliva flow rate was measured the saliva flow rate in one minute (ml/min). Participants were asked to chew the gauze for two minutes and spited out the gauze and saliva back into the test tube. After centrifuging the saliva of the gauze, pour the saliva into a measuring tube to measure the volume of the saliva. |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Perceived dysphagia |
Perceived dysphagia, which was defined as a subjective perception of problems swallowing, was measured using the swallowing screening scale developed by Ohkuma and has an internal consistency Cronbacha's alpha coefficient of 0.85. Examples of questions included "Do you ever have difficulty swallowing?" "Do you ever have difficulty as a result of cough up phlegm during or after a meal?" "Does it take you longer to eat a meal than it used to?" "Do you feel that it is becoming difficult to eat solid foods?" and "Do you ever have difficulty sleeping because of coughing during the night?" Possible responses were "obviously" (frequently), "slightly" (sometimes), or "no" (never). Respondents with at least one severe symptom were classified as having dysphagia. |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Plaque control record (PCR) |
Plaque control record (PCR) was measured the percentage of tooth surface with plaque. PCR range from 0 to 100%. |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Plaque index (PI) |
Plaque index (PI) was measured the six indicator teeth 12, 16, 24, 32, 36, 44 and the score for each tooth is range from 0 to 3 (0 = no plaque, 1 = a film of plaque adhering to the free gingival margin and adjacent area of the tooth, 2 = moderate accumulation of soft deposit s within the gingival pocket, or the tooth and gingival margin which can be seen with the naked eye, 3 = abundance of soft matter within the gingival pocket and/or on the tooth and gingival margin). Then summing the average of 6 indicators teeth. |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI) |
Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI) was measured the accumulation of coating on the surface of the tongue. The tongue was divided into six areas (three posterior and three anterior), and the coating was scored as 0 = no coating, 1 = light coating, or 2 = severe coating; scores ranged from 0 to 12 points. |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Regular dental visit |
The question of dental visit, "Do you see a dentist every six months?" Possible responses were "Yes", "No". |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Brushing =2 times/day |
The question of tooth-brushing, "How many times do you brush your teeth a day?" Possible responses were "None", "One time", "Two times" and "More than 3 times". |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Use of interdental brushes |
The question of interdental brush, "Do you use an interdental brush every day?" Possible responses were "Yes", "No" and "Never heard". |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|
Primary |
Use of dental floss |
The question of flossing, "Do you use dental floss every day?" Possible responses were "Yes", "No" and "Never heard". |
Change from baseline at 2-week, 3-month and 6-month after intervention |
|