Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the intervention effect of oral functional exercise combined with psychological intervention on oral frailty in older adults. METHODS: Ninety-six older adults with oral frailty treated in our hospital from August 2023 to April 2024 were randomly assigned to an observation group or a control group. The control group received routine oral care and health guidance, and the observation group added oral functional exercise combined with psychological intervention. After 3 months of intervention, the two groups were compared in oral function (chewing, swallowing), psychological status (SAS, SDS scores), oral health status, and self-efficacy before and after intervention. RESULTS: Before the intervention, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in oral functional indicators, SAS and SDS scores, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) scores, or Self-Efficacy Scale for Oral Health (SESS) scores (P > 0.05). After the intervention, the observation group showed superior chewing function, swallowing function, and SESS scores compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The SAS, SDS, and OHIP-14 scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined oral functional exercise and psychological intervention effectively improved oral function, alleviated anxiety and depression, and enhanced oral health-related quality of life and self-efficacy among older adults with oral frailty. This intervention provides a feasible approach for managing oral frailty in older adults. Future multicenter studies and long-term follow-up data are needed to further validate its generalizability and sustainability, providing stronger evidence for clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100054200. https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html . Date of registration 20,211,211. Retrospectively registered.