title: Assessment and measurement of oral mucositis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the assessment and monitoring of mucositis and provide an overview of instruments available to assess or measure mucositis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published journal articles, texts, and clinical experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lack of consistent use of valid and reliable instruments for the assessment of mucositis have limited progress in the prevention and management of mucositis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses play a key role in the assessment of oral cavity changes. Using valid and reliable measures will foster the ability to predict risk for mucositis and to test the effectiveness of protocols for its prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology/Hematology, The Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eilers
authors.forename: Joel B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Epstein
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents