Abstract | AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: BACKGROUND:
Mucositis has been of interest to scientists for more than 20 years. Unfortunately, this has not resulted in the development of standard procedures for prevention and management. To cope with this side-effect and to prevent opportunistic infections that may emerge during treatment, attempts are taken to provide preventative and comfort measures. In this context, cryotherapy (oral cooling) has become popular as a cheap and readily applicable method in preventing the developing due the rapid infusion of chemotherapy agents, or decreasing its severity. DESIGN AND METHOD: RESULTS: According to Patient-Judged Mucositis Grading, the rate of mucositis is 36.7% in study group and 90.0% in control group, the difference between two groups being statistically significant (P < 0.05). According to Physician-Judged Mucositis Grading, the rate of mucositis is 10.0% in the study group and 50.0% in the control group, the difference between two groups being statistically significant (P < 0.05). Oral pH values decreased in 90% of the subjects in study group, i.e. mucositis risk was reduced whereas oral pH values remained unchanged or decreased in 86.7% of the subjects in the control group, namely mucositis risk increased. The difference between study and control groups in terms of the change in pH values after chemotherapy was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings have demonstrated that oral cryotherapy makes an important contribution to the protection of oral health by reducing the mucositis score according to patient- and physician-judged mucositis score and by increasing oral pH values. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Aggressive cancer therapy places patients at greater risk for oral complications and treatment-related consequences. Unfortunately, prevention and/or treatment of such oral sequelae have often become overlooked as priorities of the treatment team. Effective approaches for the prevention or treatment of oral mucositis have not been standardized, and vary considerably among institutions. Prophylactic measures begin with an increased emphasis on improved oral status. Oral cryotherapy, the therapeutic administration of cold, is a prophylactic measure for oral inflammation. The relevance for clinical practice will be to understand the content of mucositis; comprehensive care should focus on the prevention of this complication in the clinical practice.
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Authors | Serife Karagözoğlu, Mehlika Filiz Ulusoy |
Journal | Journal of clinical nursing
(J Clin Nurs)
Vol. 14
Issue 6
Pg. 754-65
(Jul 2005)
ISSN: 0962-1067 [Print] England |
PMID | 15946284
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Aged
- Analysis of Variance
- Antineoplastic Agents
(adverse effects)
- Attitude to Health
- Clinical Nursing Research
- Cryotherapy
(methods, nursing, psychology)
- Female
- Hospitals, University
- Humans
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Mouth Mucosa
(chemistry, drug effects)
- Nursing Methodology Research
- Oral Hygiene
(methods, nursing, psychology)
- Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
- Risk Factors
- Severity of Illness Index
- Stomatitis
(chemically induced, prevention & control, psychology)
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Turkey
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