Effect of an Oral Mucositis Protocol on Quality of Life of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Radiation Therapy

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Kartin P. T., TAŞCI S., Soyuer S., Elmali F.

CLINICAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY NURSING, vol.18, no.6, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 18 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1188/14.cjon.e118-e125
  • Journal Name: CLINICAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY NURSING
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Keywords: radiotherapy, oral mucositis, nutritional status, quality of life, nursing, radiation therapy, SUBJECTIVE GLOBAL ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT, PREVENTION, CARE, NUTRITION, IMPACT
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of an oral mucositis prevention protocol on nutritional status and quality of life for patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. This randomized, controlled, experimental study placed 20 patients in an intervention group where they received an oral care protocol and a nutrition protocol. Thirty patients were placed in the control group. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using an oral assessment guide, oral evaluation guidelines, an oral toxicity scale, a visual analog scale, a subjective global assessment index, and a quality-of-life scale. As time post-treatment progressed, the prevalence of malnutrition in the intervention group was lower than in the controls group, and the intervention group experienced significantly less pain related to oral mucositis. Similar deteriorations in quality of life were noted in each group.