title: Effect of an oral hygienic care program for stroke patients in the intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of an oral hygienic care program (OHCP) have been reported in several diseases. However, no study exists investigating the influence of an OHCP on stroke patients or patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) has been reported, thus we sought to investigate the potential effect of an OHCP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six consecutive stroke patients who were admitted to the ICU were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention (29 patients) and control groups (27 patients). The OHCP included tooth brushing with an inter-dental brush and tongue cleaner and cleaning with chlorhexidine was administered to patients by one dentist once per day during admission in the ICU (mean, 2.2 weeks). The plague index, gingival index, clinical attachment loss, and colonization degree of candida albicans were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After OHCP, the plaque index, gingival index, and colonization degree of candida albicans in saliva showed a significant decrease in the intervention group compared to those of the control group (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in clinical attachment loss and the colonization degree of candida albicans on the tongue (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our OHCP was effective in improving the oral hygienic status and periodontal health of stroke patients during their stay in the ICU. Therefore, we recommend administration of the OHCP for stroke patients during their stay in the ICU.
authors: Department of Dentistry, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 705-703, Korea. lhk@med.yu.ac.kr.
authors: Eun-Kyong
authors: EK
authors: Kim
authors: Sung-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Jang
authors: Youn-Hee
authors: YH
authors: Choi
authors: Kyeong-Soo
authors: KS
authors: Lee
authors: Young-Jae
authors: YJ
authors: Kim
authors: Sung-Ho
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: Hee-Kyung
authors: HK
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke
keywords: Oral health promotion; intensive care unit; stroke