Development of oral home telecare programme for the home-dwelling elderly: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the pilot study was to develop and evaluate a telecare programme for home-dwelling elderly to provide education on oral and general health care.


METHODS
A field trial with a computer system linking a university with a structured network.


METHODS
A group of home-dwelling elderly males with a mean age of 73.3 years.


METHODS
Qualitative assessment following videophone interviews with clients and their families.


RESULTS
Clients and families were able to gain a better understanding and knowledge of oral health care particularly the skills required to perform new oral care procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
Preventive oral homecare via videophone offers the potential for providing a long-term structure for maintaining oral health particularly with limited social resources.
Tomuro
Kaori
K
Health Care Economics, Department of Health Science Policies, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. tomuro.hce@tmd.ac.jp
D000368:Aged; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000379:methods*; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017216:Telemedicine