Care Partner Assisted Intervention to Improve Oral Health of Individuals With Mild Dementia

Study Summary

Care Partner Assisted Intervention to Improve Oral Health for Individuals with Mild Dementia is a randomized control trial (RCT) based in New York City and North Carolina. The intervention includes both a tailored oral care plan and a behavioral component using the Adaptive Leadership Framework for Chronic Illness that the team introduced to manage symptoms associated with chronic conditions, such as dementia. Objective 1 is to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to improve oral hygiene clinical outcomes (i.e. plaque index and gingival index) by improving oral hygiene behavior (i.e., frequency and duration of toothbrushing) and oral health skills among individuals with mild dementia. Objective 2A is to determine whether effects of the intervention on oral hygiene behavioral outcomes, are mediated by the following variables from the care partners' perspective: 1) oral care self-efficacy; 2) care partner self-efficacy; 3) use of cueing methods; 4) and FOCUSED Communication. Objective 2B is to determine whether effects of the intervention on oral hygiene clinical outcomes, are mediated by the following variables from the care partner's perspective: 1) oral care self-efficacy; 2) care partner's self-efficacy; 3) use of cueing methods; 4) and FOCUSED Communication. Objective 3A is to determine whether effects of the intervention on oral hygiene clinical outcomes are mediated by oral hygiene behavioral outcomes. Objective 3B is to determine whether effects of the intervention on oral hygiene clinical outcomes are mediated by the care partner's factors, which then mediate the oral hygiene behavioral outcomes on oral hygiene clinical outcomes. This innovative care partner-assisted oral care behavior intervention will assist participants and care partners in implementing a cooperative oral hygiene care plan to prevent deterioration of oral health, which in turn, will help the targeted population maintain independence in completing daily activities and quality of life fo

Primary Outcome

UNC Modified Green and Vermillion Oral Hygiene Index. Plaque was measured per tooth, 0 = No plaque, 1 = Plaque covers \<1/3 tooth, 2 = Plaque covers \>=1/3 but \<2/3 tooth and 3 = Plaque covers \>=2/3 tooth. The index values were calculated as the proportion of sites with plaque deposits on at least less than 1/3 of crown. The index value is the proportion of sites with plaque deposits. Higher index values indicate higher levels of plaque.

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Care Partner-Assisted Intervention