OPPD Orofacial Pain in People with Dementia Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Orofacial Pain in People with Dementia
IRAS ID
216131
Contact name
Elizabeth Sampson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2016/12/51 health research, UCL data protection registration
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Pain in people with dementia, especially those who are unable to self-report, is often underdiagnosed and therefore undertreated. One of the most prevalent types of pain in older people is orofacial pain. Orofacial pain can be caused by oral health problems. In the general population, oral health problems and orofacial pain increase with age. In people with dementia, the oral health problems increase even more, because of the reduced motor skills, reduced cognition, and less self-care. Besides orofacial pain, poor oral health in older people admitted to hospital can also be associated with dehydration, malnutrition weight loss, and impairment of immune function. Good mouth care is a vital component of care in hospital, particularly in frail older people.
A diagnostic tool, the OPS-NVI (Orofacial-Pain Scale for Non-Verbal Individuals) has recently been developed to diagnose the presence of orofacial pain in patients who are unable to communicate verbally. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of orofacial pain, observed with the OPS-NVI, in people with dementia in UK acute hospitals. As part of the validation of the OPS-NVI, it will also be investigated whether the level of orofacial pain is related to the oral health of the patients.
The participants will be recruited at the elderly wards of two different hospitals. The proposed sites are North Middlesex University Hospital and University College Hospital, both in London.REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0430
Date of REC Opinion
29 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion