title: Impact of oral mucositis on oral-health-related quality of life of patients diagnosed with cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral mucositis (OM) has been described as the oral complication most frequently associated with antineoplastic therapy. However, the influence on the quality of life of affected patients is still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of OM on the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients diagnosed with cancer, who developed chemotherapy- and/or radiotherapy-induced OM.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional evaluation of QoL using oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14). The study group comprised a sample of 60 patients diagnosed with cancer, who developed OM during the treatment. The instrument (OHIP-14) composed of seven dimensions was used: functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical deficiency, psychological deficiency, social incapacity, and deficiency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The internal consistency of OHIP-14 measured by the Cronbach's α coefficient was of 0.76. Physical pain attained the highest score (worst quality of life) among the studied dimensions 60.8% (292/480), followed by physical limitation 52.7% (253/480), and psychological discomfort 50.8% (244/480). The dimension 'social limitation' obtained the lowest score 27.2% (131/480). There was statistically significant difference as regards gender (P = 0.021) for physical pain, with greater impact among patients of the male gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral-health-related quality of life is significantly affected by OM in individuals diagnosed with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barkokebas
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor Henrique Morais
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samantha Cardoso
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinic and Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Albuquerque Tavares
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinic and Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Alcino Monteiro
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gueiros
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Saul Martins
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinic and Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jair Carneiro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leão
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009909:Oral Health; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cancer; mucositis; quality of life