title: Cancer patients with oral mucositis: challenges for nursing care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to analyze nursing care provided to cancer patients with oral mucositis based on the Nursing Process (NP).
  
  
  METHODS
  this exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study was conducted with 213 patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in two cancer facilities: one philanthropic and one private service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the participants were mainly female, aged 45.8 years old on average, with up to 11 years of schooling and income of up to one times the minimum wage. Severe mucositis was related to chemotherapy associated with radiotherapy. Only 25.3% of the patients reported having received guidance from nurses during their treatment concerning self-care. The perceptions of patients regarding quality of care did not significantly differ between the private and public facilities. The basic human needs mainly affected were comfort, eating, and hygiene. Based on this finding, one NP was established listing the diagnoses, interventions and expected results to establish an ideal, though individualized, standard of nursing care to be provided to these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  to understand oral mucositis is crucial to establish nursing care that includes prevention based on the implementation of an oral care plan.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Parnaíba, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sarah Nilkece Mesquita
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Helena Barros Araújo
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Grazielle Roberta Freitas
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine Maria Leite Rangel
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lívio César Cunha
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Moura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009736:Nursing Process; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing*; D055815:Young Adult