Optimizing oral health in elderly residents: A cluster randomized controlled study evaluating the impact of caregiver education in old age homes of Lucknow

After obtaining permission from institution managers, oral prophylaxis will be done to all participants one month before the study commencement then institutions will be randomly allocated to either the study or control group. Baseline data collection will involve assessing oral health knowledge among caregivers using a 15-item proforma, documenting the dental conditions of residents with tools like the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and the Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman modification of the Quigley Hein Plaque Index, and evaluating oral health-related quality of life using the GOHAI index, along with the Barthel Index to assess participant dependency. The study group will receive oral health education for caregivers through a video presentation at baseline, reinforced after three months, while the control group will continue with routine care for six months, receiving oral health education afterward. Follow-up data collection at six months will reassess oral health knowledge and conditions using the same indices and a follow-up questionnaire. Oral health education for caregivers in the study group will be reinforced, and the control group will receive this education at the end of six months. Final data collection will document oral health outcomes for both groups, followed by statistical analysis to compare results.