National Survey of Oncology Members’ Knowledge, Education and Patient Management Regarding Oral Care in Cancer Therapy

Rebecca Tranmer,Denise Bowen,Teri Peterson,Linda Boyd,Tara Johnson,Bernadette Howlett

doi:10.7772/2159-1253.1049

Abstract

Abstract INTRODUCTION Oral complications can be profound in patients undergoing cancer therapy, negatively impacting quality of life, and potentially postponing or disrupting treatment. While oncology team members seek to deliver op-timal oral care, evidence-based management of oral complications and knowledge in the provision of oral care poses a challenge to attaining satisfactory reductions in complications such as oral mucositis, xerostomia and rampant dental caries.METHODS A cross-sectional, random sample (N=2,000) of members of the Oncology Nursing Society were surveyed via a Web-based questionnaire to identify knowledge of oral care, oral health management practices and factors in u-encing provision of oral care for patients being treated for cancer. Frequencies were calculated for demographic and cat -egorical data. Education, years of experience, and comfort levels were measured and correlated to identi ed subscales of knowledge, management of oral complications, and use of evidence-based protocols for high-risk patients.RESULTS Over 75% of respondents reported

Highlights

Oral complications can be profound in patients undergoing cancer therapy, negatively impacting quality of life, and potentially postponing or disrupting treatment
Use of evidence-based protocols and oral management increased with levels of oral healthcare education and years of experience (p≤0.05)
Our findings indicate oral complications, with cytotoxic drugs and radiation therapy, were minimally addressed in general professional programs; extensive content regarding oral health within specialized oncology education was reported by nearly half of responding oncology professionals, and an additional forty percent reported some content

Summary

Introduction

Oral complications can be profound in patients undergoing cancer therapy, negatively impacting quality of life, and potentially postponing or disrupting treatment. Oral complications can be profound, negatively impacting quality of life, and potentially postponing or disrupting cancer therapy (ACS, 2013; NIDCR, 2011). Short- and long-term complications associated with head and neck radiotherapy and/or systemic chemotherapies include oral mucositis, a painful inflammation and ulcerations in the oral tissue; xerostomia, severe dry mouth resulting from reduced or absent saliva flow; trimus, a condition limiting opening of jaw with painful muscle spasms; rampant dental caries, tooth decay that affects multiple teeth and progresses rapidly ; and osteoradionecrosis, a necrosis of the jaw bone following radiation (ACS, 2013; NCI, 2013; NIDCR, 2011; Trotti et al, 2003)

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion