A comparative study of effect of ozone water with chlorhexidine in prevention of oral lesions in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation

Background and Objectives: Oral care is a fundamental activity in nursing care. Providing oral care for ill patients, who are not able to keep their oral care, would provide comfort for patients and prevented them from oral lesions. This study was conducted to compare of the effect of Ozone water with Chlorhexidine in prevention of oral lesions in patients in critical care units. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out on 74 patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit of Mousavi hospital in Zanjan. The participants were selected preliminary using convenience sampling, and then allocated randomly to two groups of intervention (n=39) and control (n=35) groups. Data was collected using the Beck Oral Assessment Scale (BOAS) scale. The data were analyzed using univariate statistical analysis (independent t statistical tests, Fisherchr('39')s exact test, and Cochran Q (in SPSS16. Results: The results of the study showed that the mean score of oral lesions according to BOAS in intervention group was almost the same as control groups by the third day of intervention. However, the mean score of oral lesions in the intervention group was reduced statistically compared to control group (P=0/013) on the fourth day. Conclusion: The results of the current study revealed that Ozone water is more effective than chlorhexodone in prevention of oral lesions.