Authors (including presenting author) :
YUEN TY(1), TSUI LN(1), CHOI CL(1), CHANG WH(1), HUI CH(1), CHAN YY(1), WOO MC(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Medicine & Rehabilitation, Tung Wah Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Lips are covered by a thin layer of stratum corneum and serve as a barrier function. However it is highly susceptible to environmental effects, causing the lips to become dry, chapped, and dull in color. Patients with eating disorders including poor oral intake are associated with several different behaviors which potentially influence both general health and oral health, hindering rehabilitation process. Research showed dry/cracked lips associated with eating disorder in OR= 9.6. Various products including Olive oil and Vaseline are considered for lip care, facilitating patient tackling poor oral intake.
Objectives :
1.To improve the patient lip condition
2.To explore different treatment methods on improving patient oral intake during hospitalization by managing lip condition
3.To improve staff awareness and knowledge on managing patient lip care
Methodology :
The study included 30 patients with high risk of poor oral intake with admission HKC-MUST score 1 or above with both self and assisted oral feeding were included. Nurses apply Olive oil or Vaseline to the patient’s lips before bedtime every night. Skin assessments were performed pre- and post-program, utilizing inspection and palpation to evaluate five comprehensive components, including temperature, turgor, color, moisture level, and integrity. Patient satisfaction surveys are also used to collect patient’s response towards the program. A 45-minute educational section was held to improve staff awareness and knowledge on managing patient lip care.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 30 geriatric patients were randomized under the care with Olive oil (n = 15) and Vaseline group (n = 15).
Results demonstrated that 93.3% of patients in both the Olive Oil and Vaseline groups showed improvement in oral intake. Lip condition mainly improved in moisture level, with both Olive oil and Vaseline groups showed 100% of patients significantly improved lip skin condition from dry to moist and chapped to intact. 80% of Olive oil group patients improved the nature of lip color from pale to pinkish, while 73.3% of Vaseline group of patient. In the patient satisfaction survey, 100% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Olive oil or Vaseline could improve and protect their lip skin condition and hence more willing in eating. 93.3% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the use of Olive oil during hospitalization as lip care products improve their lip condition hence better mood in eating while 90% of respondents from the Vaseline group.
