title: A randomized clinical trial of oral hygiene care programmes during stroke rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of an advanced oral hygiene care programme (AOHCP) and a conventional oral hygiene care programme (COHCP) in improving oral hygiene, and reducing gingival bleeding among patients with stroke during outpatient rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were randomized to receive (i) the COHCP comprising a manual toothbrush, toothpaste, and oral hygiene instruction, or (ii) the AOHCP comprising a powered toothbrush, 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinse, toothpaste, and oral hygiene instruction. Dental plaque, gingival bleeding, and other clinical oral health outcomes were assessed at baseline, the end of the clinical trial, and the end of observation period. Development of infectious complications was also monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants of both programmes had a significant reduction in the percentages of sites with moderate to abundant dental plaque (p<0.001) and with gingival bleeding (p<0.05). Those in the AOHCP had significantly less plaque and gingival bleeding than those in the COHCP controlling for other factors at the end of the clinical trial period (both p<0.001) and the observational period (plaque: p<0.05, gingival bleeding: p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although both oral hygiene care programmes were effective in terms of plaque and gingival bleeding control, the AOHCP was more effective than the COHCP in reducing dental plaque and gingival bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted the value of oral hygiene programmes within stroke outpatient rehabilitation and provides evidence to advocate for the inclusion of oral hygiene care programmes within stroke outpatient rehabilitation for patients with normal cognitive abilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Prince Philip Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong; Stomatologic Hospital & College, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Hefei, 230032, China. Electronic address: u3001283@connect.hku.hk.
authors.forename: Ruoxi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 4/F Prince Philip Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Electronic address: ottolam@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Otto L T
authors.initials: OLT
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Prince Philip Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Electronic address: hrdplcm@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Edward C M
authors.initials: ECM
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tung Wah Hospital, 12 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: lswli@hkucc.hku.hk.
authors.forename: Leonard S W
authors.initials: LSW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 3/F Prince Philip Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong. Electronic address: mcgrathc@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Colman
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGrath
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000517:prevention & control; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010512:Periodontal Index; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000145:classification; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014100:Toothpastes
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes; D014100:Toothpastes; D002710:Chlorhexidine
keywords: Clinical trial; Dental plaque; Oral hygiene; Rehabilitation; Stroke