at any point. Since the researchers a pilot study prior to carrying out the proposed didn’t conduct experiment, the potential deficiencies in its design could have been overlooked. Authors also found that for the first 6 months of observation, no significant difference was seen between the two groups due to the one of the limitations of the study: limited communication and cooperation between the staff and subjects. They added that the limitation was corrected as the study proceeded and allowed to carry out the POHC more effectively. The conclusion drawn from this pretest posttest true experimental study is that POHC administered to a group of nursing home patients was associated with a reduction in prevalence of fevers and fatal pneumonia. Even though the samples were selected from a homogenous nursing home population of Japanese descent in both of the discussed pretest posttest experimental studies, this is not necessarily considered a study bias; however, it could affect the study outcomes applicability to the populations of a different descent. Abe and associates9 performed a longitudinal prospective cohort study over a period of one year to see if pneumonia could be predicted using bacteria in saliva and oral patients’ hygiene status. This correlation was used to set a standard for visualization of oral hygiene. The purpose of the study did not state that the subjects were nursing home patients. The researchers failed to state any specific inclusion or exclusions, but identified that informed consent was given by each participant. Over a period of one year, 145 Japanese residents over the age of 65 in nursing homes were evaluated. A Dental Plaque Index (DPI) and Tongue Plaque Index (TPI) were used to categorize patients into a good oral hygiene group (DPI 0, DPI 1 and TPI 0) and a poor oral hygiene group (DPI 2 and TPI 1). Saliva sampling and bacterial analysis were also used for data collection to confirm a correlation. The conclusion of this investigation showed the poor oral health group had a significant increase in febrile days and new signs of pneumonia.
at any point. Since the researchers didn’t conduct a pilot study prior to carrying out the proposed experiment, the potential deficiencies in its design could have been overlooked. Authors also found that for the first 6 months of observation, no significant difference was seen between the two groups due to the one of the limitations of the study: limited communication and cooperation between the staff and subjects. They added that the limitation was corrected as the study proceeded and allowed to carry out the POHC more effectively. The conclusion drawn from this pretest posttest true experimental study is that POHC administered to a group of nursing home patients was associated with a reduction in prevalence of fevers and fatal pneumonia. Even though the samples were selected from a homogenous nursing home population of Japanese descent in both of the discussed pretest posttest experimental studies, this is not necessarily considered a study bias; however, it could affect the study outcomes applicability to the populations of a different descent. Abe and associates9 performed a longitudinal prospective cohort study over a period of one year to see if pneumonia could be predicted using bacteria in saliva and patients’ oral hygiene status. This correlation was used to set a standard for visualization of oral hygiene. The purpose of the study did not state that the subjects were nursing home patients. The researchers failed to state any specific inclusion or exclusions, but identified that informed consent was given by each participant. Over a period of one year, 145 Japanese residents over the age of 65 in nursing homes were evaluated. A Dental Plaque Index (DPI) and Tongue Plaque Index (TPI) were used to categorize patients into a good oral hygiene group (DPI 0, DPI 1 and TPI 0) and a poor oral hygiene group (DPI 2 and TPI 1). Saliva sampling and bacterial analysis were also used for data collection to confirm a correlation. The conclusion of this investigation showed the poor oral health group had a significant increase in febrile days and new signs of pneumonia.