A Cross-sectional Study of the Oral Health of Elderly Inpatients in Acute and Subacute Hospitals in Northumberland and North Tyneside

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Status: Completed

Conditions: Oral Health

Treatments: Other: no intervention - cross-sectional observational only

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03214237

IRAS217606

Details and patient eligibility

About

To provide a point-in-time measurement of the oral health of elderly inpatients across the trust (elderly defined here as over 70 years). This will provide information about the number of teeth, need for restorative and periodontal treatment, and extractions, the health of the oral mucosa, quality of any dentures and hygiene of the teeth and dentures.

Full description

Such information will allow identification of any problems with oral health in this hospital population, thereby allowing development of strategies and protocols for managing these problems. There have been a number of studies examining these variables in elderly residents in care homes and a few in long term hospital settings (over 1 year admission), but only one in the UK previously in acute hospitals. Therefore the published literature is sparse, and requires further data collection. The oral health of the elderly, but particularly the institutionalized, is increasingly recognised for its important relationships with general health, wellbeing and quality of life. This study will provide useful information to address these concerns.

Enrollment: 35 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 70+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age 70 or over and admitted to geriatric ward within the study area, able to consent

Exclusion criteria

• unable to consent, aged under 70

Trial design

35 participants in 1 patient group

Participants

Description:

Older adult inpatients on elderly care wards in acute hospitals within the Northumbria Hospitals NHS Foundation trust area, aged 70 or over and able to consent to involvement in the study

Treatment:

Other: no intervention - cross-sectional observational only