This study investigated the effect of oral health education using a mobile app (OHEMA) on the oral health and swallowing-related quality of life (SWAL-QoL) of the elderly population in a community-based integrated care project (CICP). Forty elderly individuals in the CICP were randomized into intervention and control groups. OHEMA provided information on customized oral health care management, oral exercises, and intraoral and extraoral massage methods for 50 min/session, once a week, for 6 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed the unstimulated salivary flow rate, subjective oral dryness, tongue pressure, and SWAL-QoL, which were analyzed using ANCOVA and repeated measures ANOVA. In the intervention group, tongue pressure increased significantly from pre- (17.75) to post-intervention (27.24) (p < 0.001), and subjective oral dryness decreased from pre- (30.75) to post-intervention (18.50). The unstimulated salivary flow rate had a higher mean score in the intervention group (7.19) than in the control group (5.04) (p < 0.001). The SWAL-QoL significantly improved from pre- (152.10) to post-intervention (171.50) in the intervention group (p < 0.001) but did not change significantly in the control group (p > 0.05). OHEMA appears to be a useful tool for oral health education for the elderly as it improved the SWAL-QoL, with increased tongue pressure and reduced oral dryness.

Objectives: In the approaching super-aged society, the oral health problem of the elderly is becoming more important. The main health problem of the elderly are frailty and oral frailty causes such as dry mouth and oral dysfunction. Since swallowing function affects the diet of the elderly, it is highly related to the quality of life of the elderly. Therefore, this study was conducted to improve the quality of life related to swallowing in the elderly through Home Visit Oral Health Education (HVOE). Methods: The study subjects were some of the community care participants, and a total of 40 people were selected, 20 in the intervention group and 20 in the control group. For the intervention group, HVOE content consisted of oral muscle function exercise to improve swallowing function and was performed for 50 minutes once. The intervention was performed for a total of 6 weeks with the investigator visiting the subject's home once a week. To measure the interventions before and after swallowing-related quality of life was used for the SWALQOL. Results: After six weeks of intervention if the effect of the intervention group analysis of the swallowing-related quality of life showed a significant interaction between group and time (F=10.822, p=0.002). In the intervention group, the quality of life related to swallowing increased significantly after education (M=171.50) than before education (M=152.10). Conclusions: After 6 weeks of intervention, it was found that the HVOE had a significant effect on the elderly participating in community health care, as the swallowing-related quality of life increased in the intervention group. Therefore, it is expected that the use of the HVOE in the local community can contribute to the improvement of oral health and health of the elderly.

Objectives: In the approaching super-aged society, the oral health problem of the elderly is becoming more important. A major oral problem in the elderly is dry mouth, which causes various oral diseases and decreased swallowing function. Therefore, this study was to provide Home Visit Oral Health Education (HVOE) to some community care participants, and carried out to determine the effect of dry mouth in the elderly. Methods: The study subjects were set as 20 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group. The intervention group was given oral muscle function strengthening exercise through video theory education and practice for 6 weeks. The researcher visited the subject's home and performed HVOE for about 50 minutes once a week for a total of 6 weeks. Results: Homogeneity in all variables except for the general characteristics and non-stimulatory salivary flow of the intervention group and control group were confirmed (p > 0.05). The 6-week HVOE had a significant effect on the change in non-stimulatory salivary flow (p<0.001). The value of controlling non-stimulatory saliva estimated before the education increased significantly more in the intervention group (7.19±0.19) compared to that of the control group (5.04±0.19) (p<0.001). A significant interaction between the intervention group and the time point was found for subjective mouth dryness (F=30.265, p<0.001). The intervention group showed a more significant decrease than the control group with a decrease from M=30.75 to M=18.50 (p<0.001). Conclusions: The 6-week HVOE was found to have significant effects on the elderly who participated in the integrated community health care, showing decreased mouth dryness and non-stimulated saliva flow rate. Therefore, HVOE program for the elderly by local communities is highly expected to greatly contribute to improving and promoting oral and physical health.