Management of oral complications.
OBJECTIVE
To explore what nurses were doing to prevent or treat oral complications related to cancer and cancer therapies.


METHODS
Review articles, research studies, consensus statements, and data collection.


CONCLUSIONS
Different practice patterns exist between physicians and nurses in providing oral care interventions. Nurses initiated less toxic and less costly interventions than those prescribed by physicians. Standard assessment parameters are used infrequently.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral mucositis can be distressing by interfering with comfort, appetite, communication, and general well-being. Nurses need to initiate appropriate therapy for patient care.
Fulton
Janet S
JS
Wright State University, College of Nursing and Health, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, USA.
Middleton
Gena J
GJ
McPhail
Jeffrey T
JT
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires