Effectiveness of Oral Care in Improving Oral Health Status among Mechanically Ventilated Patients
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v8i6.2752Keywords:
beck oral assessment scale, intensive care, mechanically ventilated patients, nursing intervention, oral care, oral healthAbstract
Mechanically ventilated patients are vulnerable to impaired oral health due to endotracheal intubation, reduced protective reflexes, decreased salivary secretion, and biofilm accumulation. Structured oral care is an essential component of critical care nursing. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of oral care every 8 hours compared with every 24 hours on oral health status among mechanically ventilated patients. A quantitative quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was conducted in the Cempaka and Mawar Intensive Care Units of Dr. Moewardi Hospital, Surakarta, from April to June 2026. Sixty mechanically ventilated patients were selected using purposive sampling and allocated to intervention (8-hour oral care, n=30) and control (24-hour oral care, n=30) groups for 5 days. Oral health status was assessed using the Beck Oral Assessment Scale (BOAS). Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank and Mann-Whitney U tests. The 8-hour group showed a significant improvement in oral health status (Z=-4.912; p<0.001), with good oral status increasing from 23.3% to 100%. The 24-hour group also demonstrated significant improvement (Z=-4.245; p<0.001), with good oral status increasing from 26.7% to 50.0%. Posttest BOAS scores differed significantly between groups (U=12.500; Z=-6.526; p<0.001). Oral care every 8 hours was more effective than every 24 hours in improving oral health status among mechanically ventilated patients and may be considered an evidence-based nursing intervention in intensive care practice.
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