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LifE Style, Nutrition and Oral Health in Care Givers (LENTO)

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Nutrition Disorders in Old Age
Tooth Diseases
Plaque, Dental
Dentures
Gingival Diseases
Oral Mucositis
Caries,Dental
Interventions
Other: Nutrition and oral health intervention
Registration Number
NCT04003493
Lead Sponsor
University of Eastern Finland
Brief Summary

The LENTO study sample includes the caregivers and their clients living in eastern Finland. The aims of this study are

1. to study the nutritional status, oral health, coping, functional capacity and quality of life

2. to find out how individual nutrition and oral health counseling received for caregivers affect on the nutritional status and oral health of caregivers and their clients

3. develop an operating model to maintain good nutrition and oral health.

Detailed Description

In Finland, the aim is to reduce the institutional care of older people and caring them in their own homes. The goal of shifting the focus of services to open services is difficult to implement if the health of the caregivers is inadequate. In order to achieve this goal, it is important to influence the health and performance of caregivers. Information is needed to support this, among others, about how the nutrition and oral health of caregivers can be promoted and to what extent this affects the performance and quality of life of their clients. A randomly of 220 caregivers over 65 years old and their clients is selected for this study. The caregivers are randomized to either treatment or control groups. At the beginning of the study is estimated the nutritional status and oral health of the caregivers. Based on the results, the nutritionist and dental hygienist give individual advice to optimize the nutrition and oral health of the caregivers in the intervention group. After six months, the same measurements are made as at the beginning of the study. Monitoring measurements will be made one year after the start of the intervention. The results of this project provide information on the health, well-being, and ability to the function of the caregivers. Based on the results, is developed an operating model that is intended to be wide as use as possible. Improving the nutrition and oral health of caregivers has a significant impact on their own and their clients health and well-being as well as the long-term care costs presumably.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
250
Inclusion Criteria
  • caregivers who have a caregiver´s contract valid on 1 January 2019
  • care recipients living at home
Exclusion Criteria
  • in terminal care

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention group of nutritionNutrition and oral health interventionOn the basis of a blood test, Mini Nutritional Assessment, food diary and nutritional anamnesis, the nutritionist developed a plan for individualised nutritional care and discussed with the caregivers. If the caregivers seemed unable to increase the energy and/or protein of their diet, daily complementary dietary drinks were recommended to them. The participants were re-examined six months after the baseline interviews to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions.
Intervention group of oral healthNutrition and oral health interventionAfter the dental hygienist interview and oral health examination, the caregivers in need were targeted for oral health intervention. The intervention included individualised instructions on either dental hygiene, denture hygiene, cleaning of the oral mucosa or for dry mouth. The participants were re-examined six months after the baseline interviews to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body mass index (kg/m2)Baseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in BMI

Condition of teethBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in condition of teeth

Presence of plaqueBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in presence of plaque

Gingival bleeding and measurement of periodontal pocketsBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in gingival bleeding and measurement of periodontal pockets

Dental and denture hygieneBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change dental and denture hygiene

Subjective feeling of dry mouth and pain in mouthBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in subjective feeling of dry mouth and pain in mouth

Hand grip strengthBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in had grip strength of boot hands

Oral mucosaBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in oral mucosa

Nutritional statusBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in MNA scores

AlbuminBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in plasma albumin concentration

PrealbuminBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in plasma prealbumin concentration

Number and location of teethBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in number and location of teeth

Type and location of removable dental prosthesisBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in type and location of removable dental prosthesis

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Activities of Daily LivingBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scores

Instrumental Activities of Daily LivingBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scores

Quality of Life (WHOQOL) -bref scoresBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in quality of Life (WHOQOL) -bref scores

DepressionBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-15 scores

CognitionBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores

Sense of coherenceBaseline and 6 months and (12 months follow-up visit)

Change in sense of coherence (SOC) scores

MorbidityBaseline

Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI) scores

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Eastern Finland

🇫🇮

Kuopio, Finland

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