Evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of an oral care diary by patients during chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
A significant proportion of patients undergoing chemotherapy for many cancer types may experience oral problems, such as mucositis and any deterioration in the health of the oral cavity can have a significant effect on a person's well-being. Trends towards shorter hospital stays and the increase in out-patient chemotherapy mean that patients are required to adopt increasingly participatory roles in their self-care and are subsequently coping with mouth problems while they are at home without the direct support of oncology health professionals.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of an oral care diary by patients receiving chemotherapy.


METHODS
An oral care diary was developed to incorporate oral assessment using the Oral Assessment Guide (Eilier, J., Berger, A., Peterson, M., 1988. Development, testing and application of the oral assessment guide. Oncology Nurse Forum 15, 325-330) and guidance about oral self-care. This exploratory study utilised purpose designed pre- and post-study questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to evaluate patients' perceptions and experiences of the oral care diary.


METHODS
The study took place in 2-day chemotherapy units in Scotland: 1 in a cancer centre and 1 in a district general hospital.


METHODS
A consecutive sample of patients (n=45) receiving out-patient chemotherapy for a range of cancer diagnoses participated in the study over 2 cycles of chemotherapy.


METHODS
Following recruitment, patients were instructed in the use of the oral care diary to assess their mouth daily while at home on a daily basis. Patients were asked to complete 2 structured purpose designed questionnaires-the first prior to starting diary completion and the second following their participation in the study. Nine patients participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their actual experiences of using the oral care diary in more depth.


RESULTS
The participants found the oral care diary acceptable and feasible. Awareness of oral symptoms and related mouth self-care post-chemotherapy improved.


CONCLUSIONS
The oral care diary is an acceptable and feasible method of enhancing oral self-care during a course of chemotherapy. Further study is required to evaluate its impact on clinical outcomes.
Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Cancer Care Research Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK. morven.miller@stir.ac.uk
Morven
M
Miller
Anne
A
Taylor
Nora
N
Kearney
Gaye
G
Paterson
Mary
M
Wells
Lorna
L
Roe
Suzanne
S
Hagen
Roma
R
Maguire
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D052016:Mucositis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012606:Scotland; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents