• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the influence of oral exercise programs with whole-body exercises on the mental health of the elderly. Methods: Elderly individuals aged 65 years or older were assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Oral exercises with whole-body exercises were conducted in the experimental group for 40 minutes, twice weekly, during 5 weeks from May to June 2021. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, the oral health related quality of life (OHIP-14, GOHAI), mental health, happiness, and social support of the elderly were explored both before and after the execution of the program in the experimental group. A paired sample t-test was performed to check the changes in the factors investigated, both before and after the execution of the program in the two groups. Results: The values of difference between the experimental and control group were compared in relation to the dependent variables, before and after the execution of the oral exercise program with the whole-body exercises. It was found that statistically significant differences in the OHIP-14 (p=0.163), GOHAI (p=0.156), and feelings of happiness in the elderly (p=0.280) were not evident in the experimental group. However, statistically significant differences emerged with regard to the mental health and provision of social support of the elderly (p<0.05). Conclusions: It was found that the oral exercise program with whole-body exercises executed in this study were effective in improving the mental health and social support of the elderly. However, no significant differences were shown in oral health relating to quality of life and feelings of happiness. It is considered that these findings need to be verified by means of future long-term studies.

• 한국치위생학회지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.795-807
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to examine the satisfaction level of participants in a oral exercise program geared toward the improvement of oral function, their reuse intention of the program and their willingness of recommendation in an effort to facilitate the advancement of the program. Methods : The subjects in this study were 85 senior citizens who used senior welfare centers and nursing homes in Seoul. A oral exercise program was implemented 24 times from April to June 2009, twice a week, and the selected elderly people participated in the program 20 times or more. An interview survey was conducted by two trained dental hygienists, and the collected data were analyzed. Results : 1. As for satisfaction level with each part of the program, the elderly people investigated expressed the best satisfaction with the service supplier(a mean of 3.81), followed by the usefulness of the procedure of the program(3.77) and oral exercise(3.64). 2. The satisfaction level with oral exercise had a significant impact on their overall satisfaction with the program, reuse intention and willingness of recommendation, and the entire satisfaction level with the program was correlated to reuse intention and willingness of recommendation(p<0.001). 3. Out of the demographic characteristics, marital status and whether to live with their families or not made a significant difference to their satisfaction level with oral exercise(p<0.05). Conclusions : It took 20 minutes to get oral exercise, which consisted of warming-up, exercise for each part of oral and cooking-down, and they found it appropriate to spend that time and had no difficulties in repeating after the instructor.