@article{article_1510606, title={Investigation of Pneumonia Rates in Enteral Fed Patients with Two Different Oral Care Methods: Pilot Study in Patients with Acute Stroke}, journal={Journal of Nursology}, year={2025}, DOI={10.17049/jnursology.1510606}, author={Yıldız Ilıman, Alev and Eşer, İsmet and Şirin, Hadiye}, keywords={Enteral nutrition, oral hygiene, pneumonia, stroke}, abstract={Objective: This study compared the impact of two different oral care methods on the incidence of stroke-associated pneumonia in patients who were fed via nasogastric tube and had no oral intake after a stroke. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Neurology Intensive Care Unit of Ege University Hospital between August 2020 and April 2021. Different oral care protocols were administered to both groups for seven days. Data were collected using the Patient Information Form, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the Glasgow Coma Scale, the Bedside Oral Exam and Patient Follow-up Form. Oral care was applied to both the intervention and control groups for seven days, with oral health and saliva pH measured and recorded. The diagnosis of pneumonia was made by the Infectious Diseases unit based on physical examination, blood tests, and chest X-rays. Results: The difference in the seven-day oral health assessment scores between the intervention and control groups was found to be significant (P <.05). While no patients in the intervention group developed pneumonia, 25% of patients in the control group did, with the difference between the groups found to be insignificant (P <.05). The difference in oral health assessment scores between patients who developed pneumonia and those who did not was found to be significant (P <.05). Conclusion: It was determined that comprehensive oral care had a significant effect on oral health but did not affect saliva pH or pneumonia rates.}, publisher={Ataturk University}