1Kyungdong University, Department of Nursing, Korea
2Songho University, Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Korea
3Kyungdong University, Department of Research & Business Foundation, Korea
*Corresponding Author: Yeonim Choi, yichoi@songho.ac.kr
Online published on 27 March, 2020.
This study is a descriptive research conducted to identify the relationship between water intake, xerostomia, halitosis, stress and salivary cortisol in the elderly living in the community.
This study conducted on elderly people over 65 years old who live in the community. General characteristics were analyzed by frequency analysis and descriptive statistics. The data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA and t-test with the SPSS program. One-way ANOVA was used to determine the relationship between water intake, xerostomia, halitosis, stress and salivary cortisol. Independent t-test was used to determine the relationship between saliva cortisol and halitosis, stress.
The subjects were 21 males (42%) and 29 females (58%), the mean age was 75.3 years old. Among them, 13 (26%) were over 80 years old and 19 (38%) subjects have dentures. There were no statistically significant differences in water intake, xerostomia, halitosis, stress, and salivary cortisol. However, the relationship between salivary cortisol and halitosis and stress was found to be significant difference between salivary cortisol and halitosis.
As a result of this study, we suggest to develop an intervention program to mitigates xerostomia in order to improve halitosis by stress factors in the elderly.
Elderly, Water Intake, Xerostomia, Halitosis, Salivary Cortisol
