Effects of functional training of dysphagia to prevent pneumonia for patients on tube feeding.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of functional training on outbreak frequency of pneumonia for the elderly dysphagia patients who were being tube fed.

METHODS

Subjects were divided into two groups; one group (n = 10) received oral care (i.e. non-training group) and the other group (n = 11) received functional training of dysphagia in addition to oral care (i.e. training group). The dental health team treated subjects once a week for 3 years (1999-2001). The frequency of pneumonia outbreaks and changes in activities of daily living scale (ADL) were evaluated for each year.

RESULT

It was recognised that the frequency of pneumonia in the training group decreased year by year (p < 0.05). Cognitive items in ADL improved in two subjects of the training group. No statistical differences were recognised in the non-training group.

CONCLUSION

It was suggested that once-a-week functional training of dysphagia with professional oral care might be effective in preventing pneumonia for elderly people who were being tube fed.