Group Reading and Oral Exercise Program for Older Adults

Effects of a Focus Group-Based Bibliotherapy Intervention Combined With Oral Exercises on Oral Frailty, Physical Function, Grit, and Depression in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Depression is common among older adults and is often associated with declines in physical and oral health. Non-pharmacological, community-based interventions are needed to support both mental and physical well-being. This study examines the effects of a program combining group-based reading activities and oral exercises in community-dwelling older adults. Participants are randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which receives the six-week program, or a control group receiving general oral health education. The study evaluates whether the intervention can improve physical and oral function, enhance psychological resilience (grit), and reduce depressive symptoms.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Depression; Sarcopenia; Oral Frailty; Physical Function Decline
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Reading and Oral Exercise Program

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Community-dwelling adults aged 55 years and older.
2. Able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese and capable of understanding study instructions and participating in group discussions.
3. Able to complete study questionnaires independently or with assistance from research staff.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Individuals with severe cognitive impairment that precludes understanding study procedures or participation in group discussions.
2. Individuals with a current diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, acute phase of bipolar disorder) that would make participation in group activities inappropriate.
3. Individuals who have participated in similar psychological or bibliotherapy-based interventions within the past 3 months.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Group	Behavioral: Reading and Oral Exercise Program; Participants in the intervention group receive a combined program of group-based reading activities and oral exercises. The program is delivered in a focus group format and includes guided reading discussions to promote emotional expression and reflection, along with structured oral exercises to enhance oral muscle function. The intervention is conducted over a 6-week period, with sessions held once every two weeks for a total of three sessions.
No Intervention: Control Group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Depressive Symptoms	Depressive symptoms measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.	At baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Oral Frailty	Oral frailty assessed using the Oral Frailty Index, with higher scores indicating greater oral frailty.	At baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention period
Sarcopenia Risk	Sarcopenia risk assessed using the SARC-F questionnaire, with higher scores indicating greater risk of sarcopenia	At baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention period
Grit	Grit assessed using the Grit Scale, with higher scores indicating greater perseverance and consistency of interest.	At baseline and immediately after the 6-week intervention period

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mackay Memorial Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): April 23, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 19, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 19, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Behavioral Symptoms; Muscular Atrophy; Atrophy; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavior; Signs and Symptoms; Depression; Sarcopenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 26MMHIS046e

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No