Effects of oral gargling with aroma solution in psychiatric inpatients: A non-randomized controlled trial

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of oral gargling with an aromatic solution on xerostomia, objective oral status, and oral health-related quality of life in psychiatric inpatients. Methods: A nonequivalent control group with a non-synchronized design was used in this study. The experimental group (n=34) received oral gargling with an aroma solution, while the control group (n=33) gargled with 0.9% normal saline. Dependent variables were measured at pre-, post-, and follow-up test. Data were analyzed using an c²-test, Fisher’s exact probability test, t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS/WIN v.21.0. Results: After the intervention, significant differences were revealed in xerostomia (F=15.30, p<.001), objective oral status (F=38.44, p<.001), and oral health-related quality of life (F=62.70, p<.001) with an interaction effect between group and time. Conclusion: These findings indicate that gargling with an aroma solution is more effective than 0.9% normal saline for the oral health of psychiatric inpatients. Therefore gargling with an aroma can be safely recommended as a brief, economical, and positive intervention in clinical settings.