An interventional study of Salivary gland massage and General Oral Health Education in Oral Health Care, sponsored by Chiayi Christian Hospital. Enrolling by invitation at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 65 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-11-26.
Sponsored by Chiayi Christian Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of salivary gland massage on saliva flow, xerostomia, chewing and swallowing, and oral health among community-dwelling elderly.
Design: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial, in which both participants and interventionists were unaware of group assignments.
Sample and setting: Community-dwelling older adults were recruited from community centers in Minxiong Township and were randomly assigned by center to either the intervention group (n = 54) or the control group (n = 54) using simple randomization.
Methods: the investigators conducted a randomized controlled trial with 108 older adults aged 65 and above from community centers in Chiayi County, Taiwan. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=54), who received guided salivary gland massage, or a control group (n=54), who received a health education leaflet on oral care. Before and after the intervention, the investigators assessed dry mouth symptoms, oral mucosal moisture, The Modified Water Swallowing Test, and Tongue Coating Index. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, applying chi-square tests, paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and generalized estimating equations to determine whether the massage intervention could improve saliva production, ease dry mouth, enhance chewing and swallowing functions, and promote better oral health.
Expected Research Benefits: Salivary gland massage is a simple, safe, and self-administered health promotion method. The findings of this study may serve as an intervention strategy for health promotion programs, aiming to enhance oral health and quality of life among community-dwelling older adults, while reducing the healthcare burden associated with oral health problems. Additionally, this approach may strengthen older adults' engagement in preventive health management and increase their willingness to actively manage their own health.
Chiayi Christian Hospital is the lead sponsor of 27 studies on the registry; 9 are open to participants now.
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Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
salivary gland massage
Behavioral: Salivary gland massage
General oral health education group
Behavioral: General Oral Health Education
Participants will perform a salivary gland massage before each of their three meals, 10 times per gland, for three cycles, approximately 2 minutes each, for three months.
Health Education Presentation and Leaflet, Massage Not Performed
Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate (mL/min)
Use 4\*4 cm gauze to measure saliva. First, put the gauze into the subject's mouth and ask the subject to chew for two minutes. After two minutes, the gauze is placed in a bag, and any remaining saliva is spat into the bag and weighed. The total collected volume is recorded and converted to a flow rate per minute (mL/min). A normal baseline saliva flow rate is approximately 0.3-0.5 mL/min; a flow rate below 0.1 mL/min may indicate a risk of dry mouth.
Time frame: 3 months
xerostomia
The dry mouth condition was measured using the short dry mouth questionnaire, The dry mouth questionnaire consists of 5 questions. The higher the score, the more severe the dry mouth condition.
Time frame: 3 months
Oral mucosal moisture measurement
Use an oral moisture meter to measure the wetness of the tongue dorsum mucosa. Ask the subject to stick out his tongue and measure the tongue surface 10 mm away from the tip of the tongue. Perform the measurement three times and calculate the average value.The lower the score, the more severe the dry mouth.
Time frame: 3 months
Swallowing assessment
Using a modified water swallowing test, the subject is asked to sit on a chair and swallow 5cc of water. If they can swallow smoothly, they are asked to repeat the swallowing twice and the lowest score is used as the evaluation result.A score of ≤3 indicates a failed test, signifying poor swallowing ability.
Time frame: 3 months
Oral health
Tongue coating index measurement, If Tongue coating index ≥ 50% or total score ≥ 9, oral hygiene is poor.
Time frame: 3 months
Plan to share: No
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Chiayi Christian Hospital