Abstract

An evidence-based practice change at a radiation oncology center in a large academic medical center was designed to reduce the severity of oral mucositis in adults receiving radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. In the intervention described, patients were given newly created oral care kits and educational materials to improve their oral hygiene. Evaluations were conducted at three points during the project (before radiation treatment, during week 4 to 5 of treatment, and one month after treatment). At week 4 to 5—when the severity of oral mucositis is expected to peak—patients reported improved oral hygiene practices and reduced oral mucositis severity. The authors conclude that the use of these oral care kits and educational materials lessened the effects of oral mucositis during and after radiation treatment.

Description

http://Insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00000446-900000000-99837

Archived with thanks to AJN, American Journal of Nursing

Notes

The as-published version of this article may be found at: https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2018/01000/CE___Oral_Care_for_Head_and_Neck_Cancer_Symptom.16.aspx.

Author Details

Laura Cullen is an evidence-based practice scientist, Sharon Baumler is a staff nurse, Michele Farrington is a clinical health care research associate, Cindy Dawson is the interim chief nursing officer, Peggy Folkmann is a nurse clinician (retired), and Loraine Brenner is a nurse clinician, all in the Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. Contact author: Laura Cullen, laura-cullen@uiowa.edu. The authors gratefully acknowledge Jimmy Reyes, DNP, RN, AGNP, for his translation of the oral care insert into Spanish, and the DAISY Foundation for the partial funding it provided. The authors and planners have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Sigma Membership

Gamma

Type

Article

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Evidence-based Practice, Oncology, Radiation Therapy, Radiation-induced Mucositis, Head and Neck Cancer, Oral Care, Symptom Management

Identifier Type

0 1

Publisher

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins

Version

Post-print

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

External Review: Previously Published Material

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2018-01-01

Full Text of Presentation

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