title: Survey of oral hygiene regimens among bone marrow transplant centers.
abstract: Oral complications may occur as an adverse effect of the preparative regimens used in bone marrow transplantation (BMT). A variety of oral-care regimens are used to manage the prevention and treatment of oral complications. The purpose of this descriptive survey was to identify similarities and differences in oral-care regimens among various BMT centers. A 35-item questionnaire was sent to 92 BMT centers, with an 80% response rate. The responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Following a variety of guidelines, routine oral assessments were performed by physicians (41%), nurses (33%), and dentists (25%). Thirty-eight percent of the BMT centers used WBC counts as a basis for changing the oral hygiene regimen; 90% used platelet counts. When toothbrushing was discontinued, 50% of the centers used toothettes. In 54% of the centers, flossing was not used in oral hygiene regimens. The two primary mouth-rinses used were chlorhexidine and normal saline. In summary, few similarities existed in the assessment and management of oral care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Bone Marrow Transplant, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ezzone
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jolly
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Replogle
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tutschka
mesh_terms: D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000451:nursing*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D010976:Platelet Count; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D009067:Mouthwashes