Guidelines for the assessment of oral mucositis in adult chemotherapy, radiotherapy and haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.
Oral mucositis (OM) is a serious consequence of some chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens. A number of reliable instruments are available to assess OM, but none are universally accepted. A unique collaboration of multi-disciplinary experts from Europe was formed to make recommendations on OM assessment, based on a systematic literature review and the experts' experience. The main recommendations are listed. There should be a comprehensive baseline assessment. OM should be frequently assessed using a standardised instrument, or a combination of instruments. Physical, functional and subjective changes should be measured. Subjective measures should be assessed prior to any physical examination. The use of pain scoring, in particular patient self-reporting, should form part of any OM assessment. Any assessment instrument should be validated, easy to use and comfortable for the patient. Training of, and monitoring in, the use of the instrument is vital to successful monitoring of OM.
Quinn
Barry
B
Royal Marsden School of Cancer Nursing and Rehabilitation, London, UK. barry.quinn@rmh.nhs.uk
Potting
Carin M J
CM
Stone
Rebecca
R
Blijlevens
Nicole M A
NM
Fliedner
Monica
M
Margulies
Anita
A
Sharp
Lena
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents