Nurses' knowledge on assessment and management of cancer therapy‐associated oral mucositis

Abstract

AimThis study aimed to explore baseline nursing knowledge on assessment and management of patients at risk for developing cancer therapy‐associated oral mucositis (OM) at a tertiary hospital in Ghana.DesignA descriptive generic qualitative study design was conducted. The study population were nurses who cared for patients diagnosed with cancer.MethodsParticipants were recruited using a purposive non‐probability sampling technique. Data were obtained through face‐to‐face interviews using semi‐structured interview guide. Data collection and analysis were done concurrently.ResultsThe study found that nurses had knowledge on the pre‐treatment assessment of clients undergoing cancer treatment; however, they had insufficient knowledge on the standardized tool for the assessment of OM. They also lack a definitive approach to prevent and treat OM. Nurses provided general education on cancer treatment but paid little attention to the education on the possible side effect that includes OM. Additionally, insufficient knowledge level of nurses on cancer treatment‐associated mucositis and lack of structured protocol for OM coupled with unavailable tools for assessing the oral mucosa were also identified as militating against the management of OM. Findings from this study will guide policy that will improve the care that clients who are at risk of oral mucositis receive.

Bibliometric Analysis of Oral Mucositis Studies in the Nursing Field: A Descriptive Study

“…1 This complication usually appears 3-5 days after the first dose of CT and peaks within 14 days. 2,3 The incidence of OM may vary depending on the antineoplastic treatment method. While the incidence of OM in cancer patients obtaining standard CT ranges between 20% and 40%, it can reach up to 85% in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to the high doses required to achieve myeloablation.…”

“…However, other frequently used scales are the Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS), National Cancer Institute Toxicity Criteria (NCI), RTOG Mucositis Assessment Scale, and Eilers Oral Assessment Guide. 2 Nurses, who are the most important team members in the care of cancer patients, must adhere to evidence-based practices and be well-versed to prevent the development of OM, monitor it, and provide effective care in its treatment. 12 Although there is no standard care practice in the literature for both prevention and treatment of OM, there are evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.…”