The Study of Satisfaction on Chewing Jelly with Coconut Oil for Oral Moisturization in the Elderly: A Pilot study

Abstract

Dry mouth problems are common among the elderly, and many products have been developed to relieve and treat this issue. Objectives: This research aimed to develop clinical innovations for saliva stimulation and oral moisturizing in the elderly using chewing jelly containing coconut oil. A pilot study of its satisfaction was performed. Materials and Methods: The study population was selected based on pre-defined inclusion criteria from elderly members of the Nong Sadao Elderly Club, Suphan-Buri. Participants were aged 60 years and above and self-reported dry mouth conditions. Data were collected through interviews using satisfaction questionnaires that addressed appearance, mouthfeel, and oral moisturization after chewing two jelly formulas containing coconut oil. Descriptive statistics summarized basic data, such as mean and standard deviation. Differences in satisfaction across demographics were tested using the Mann-Whitney U Test, and differences between the original and herbal formula jellies were tested using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, with a confidence level of 95%. Results: The study population consisted of 30 elderly individuals with an average age of 70.20 ± 3.70 years. Participants included 6 males (20%) and 24 females (80%). Most participants were satisfied with the innovation, rating the appearance of both formula jellies the highest, followed by oral moisture. The lowest score was for the mouthfeel. The group experiencing moderate to severe dry mouth rated the overall appeal of the herbal formulation significantly higher. The overall scores for appearance and moisturization satisfaction indicated a statistically significant difference, with the herbal formula scoring higher. Conclusion: The chewing jelly showed high overall satisfaction. Overall, the herbal formula received higher score than the original formula.