Better oral care. Better outcomes.
The HAPPEN Study tested a simple oral-care program with 8,870 patients across three Australian hospitals. The program included providing toothbrushes and toothpaste, teaching patients and staff about tooth-brushing, helping patients who needed support, and giving feedback to hospital wards. It increased the number of patients cleaning their teeth from 16% to 62% and reduced the risk of non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia by 60%.
About the Study
Learn about the HAPPEN study, its purpose, design and participating sites.
Resources
Access our latest publications, study documents and helpful resources.
Publications
Peer-reviewed papers and study documents from the HAPPEN research team.
Information for Healthcare Workers
Guides, training and clinical resources for healthcare workers.
Information for Patients
Plain-language information for patients, families and carers.
News
Stay updated with the latest news and announcements.
Team & Partners
Meet the research team and our collaborating partners.
Contact Us
Get in touch with the HAPPEN study team for enquiries or collaborations.
Request a starter pack
Order a free HAPPEN starter pack for your facility.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Grant MRFF2022645.
About the HAPPEN Study
The HAPPEN Study tested a simple oral-care program with 8,870 patients across three Australian hospitals. It increased the number of patients cleaning their teeth from 16% to 62% and reduced the risk of non-ventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia by 60%.
Improve patient outcomes and safetyReduce preventable infectionsLower healthcare costsSupport best-practice oral care in hospitalsRequest a HAPPEN starter pack
The starter pack is the same pack used in the study: a toothbrush, toothpaste and a QR-linked guide to good oral care in hospital. Hospitals and healthcare facilities can request packs for their staff and patients.
A toothbrush and toothpaste in a HAPPEN bagA QR code linking to the oral care guidesFree to hospitals and healthcare facilitiesPacks are limited, so request early
Infection Control Matters
A free, non-sponsored podcast about infection control. It includes a series of episodes about pneumonia. You can search for episodes and subscribe on the podcast website.
Subscribe to news, study and resources updates
Subscribe for HAPPEN Study updates. You will receive an email when News or new resources are published.