title: Educational issues in oral care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the importance of patient, family, and health care professional education in enhancing oral care and adherence to treatment regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Textbooks, review articles, and research studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral complications of cancer therapy influence both patient outcomes and fiscal outcomes. Patient awareness of the importance of oral health improves adherence to the oral care standard. However, the lack of knowledge of health professionals is a barrier to implementing patient education and oral care standards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curriculum should incorporate oral assessment and oral hygiene. Training of oncology nurses must include assessment, prevention, and treatment of oral mucositis.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Betty T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Damato
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000193:education*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*