Caregivers' perspectives on oral health problems of end-of-life cancer patients.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine caregivers' perspectives on oral health problems in cancer patients at the end of life and explore factors that contribute to those perspectives. A cross-sectional, observational clinical study design was used. We recruited dyads of lay caregivers and patients with advanced cancer who were receiving hospice or palliative care in their homes. Caregivers [N=104, mean age=55.4±15.0years (18-100); n=50 (48%) African-American; and n=80 (77%) female] completed the proxy version of the Oral Problems Scale to provide their perspectives regarding their care recipients' xerostomia, orofacial pain, and taste change in the past week. More than half of the caregivers reported that care recipients' oral hygiene was a very important responsibility for caregivers, and over 80% reported that it was very important to evaluate their care recipients' oral problems. However, caregivers reported that they asked their care recipients about oral problems infrequently. There were statistically significant correlations between caregivers' and care recipients' ratings on xerostomia, orofacial pain, taste change, and functional/social impact. Caregivers' age and well-being predicted their awareness of care recipients' oral health problems. Future research efforts should focus on understanding the challenges that prevented caregivers from translating their awareness of the importance of care recipients' oral health to frequent evaluation and provision of oral care.