CN107 - The effect of Orem-based oral self-care protocol on high-dose chemotherapy-related oral mucositis and self-care agency in patients for hematologic malignancies: A randomized controlled study

Background

This study aimed to examine the impact of nurse led oral self-care protocol based on Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory, on the occurrence, duration, and severity of oral mucositis and self-care agency in patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies.

Methods

The study involved a sample of 60 patients that were randomly divided into two groups as the intervention group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). Oral mucositis was graded using the World Health Organization oral toxicity criteria and the self-care agency of the patients was evaluated with the self-care agency scale.

Results

After 21 days of follow-up, the occurrence of oral mucositis showed a significant difference between the intervention group, where the nurse led oral self-care protocol was implemented (6.7%), and the control group (46.7%) (p=0.000). The severity of oral mucositis on the 7th and 14th days was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The mean duration of oral mucositis was significantly shorter in the intervention days (5.0±2.82), with a median of 5.0 (range: 3-7) days than the control group (10.50 ± 3.63) days, with a median of 10.0 (range: 7-14) days (p=0.000). The post-test self-care agency mean scores on the 21st day were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (p=0.000).

Conclusions

This study showed that a systematically applied nurse led oral self-care protocol that was developed based on Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory was effective in reducing the oral mucositis occurrence, severity, and duration according to the WHO mucositis scale, especially on the 7^th and 14^th days, and in increasing self-care agency score on the 21^st day in cancer patients, according to the self-care agency scale.

Clinical trial identification

NCT06049511, 2023-09/21.

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Ege University.

Funding

Scientific Research Projects Coordinatorship of Ege University.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.