Clinical Evaluation of Comprehensive Versus Routine Oral Care among Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Oral care is an essential nursing management for critically ill patients who cannot carryout his activity by themselves in critical care units. Oral care of the critically ill affect theincidence of periodontal illness. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of comprehensive versusroutine oral care on oral health of critically ill patients at intensive care unit. To achieve this aim, a quasiexperimentalresearch design was utilized. The study was carried out at the Intensive Care Unit at TantaEmergency Hospital. A convenient sample of 40 adult patients were selected and randomly divided intotwo equal groups, 20 patients in each group. Two tools were used for data collection. Tool I: Critically IllPatient’s Assessment Sheet and Tool II: Oral Assessment guide Scale. Hypotheses: The comprehensiveoral care is more effective than routine oral care in minimizing oral problems for critically ill patients atintensive care unit. The results showed that there was no significance difference between study andcontrol group in the first day of admission. However at third and seventh day of admission, there wassignificant improvement of condition of swallow, lips, tongue, mucus membrane, teeth, and Oder in studygroup compared to control group. While the difference was significant on seven day only in gingival andsaliva with P = 0.00. The study concluded that oral comprehensive care was more effective than oralroutine care in improving oral health status of critically ill patients. Based on findings of the study it isrecommended to use comprehensive oral care for ICU patients as well as the non-intubated patient withself-care deficits. Assessment of oral health status should be incorporated as part of routine care ofcritically ill patients.