title: The effect of preventive oral care on treatment outcomes of a cohort of oral cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess patient adherence to an oral preventive measures (OPM) protocol and its impact on cancer treatment outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort of oral cancer of 133 patients submitted to radiotherapy (RT) was selected, excluding those with metastasis. Patients were grouped according to their local tumor response after finishing RT (favorable or unfavorable) and adherence to an OPM (none, ≤6 months, and >6 months). OPM included education and counseling about adverse effects, elimination of infection foci, restorative procedures, fluoride therapy, oral rehydration, and maintenance and supervision of oral hygiene throughout treatment. Clinical and pathological characteristics were recorded, and patient outcomes (frequency of adverse effects, RT interruption, and overall survival) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with higher adherence to the OPM had greater occurrence of RT interruption as a consequence of symptoms (p = 0.01); however, these patients were more likely to complete the established RT protocol (p = 0.02). Overall survival (p = 0.01) was higher in the group with higher adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the implementation of oral preventive measures may contribute to improving the prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treatment by reducing the negative impact of oral complications.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marilia Oliveira
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcela Ramos Abrahão
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leles
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy Department of the Araújo Jorge Hospital, Association of Cancer Combat of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Castro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dourado Pinezi
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology and Radiology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. elismaur@ufg.br.|Disciplina de Patologia Geral e Bucal, Faculdade de Odontologia, Praça Universitária S/N Setor Universitário, CEP: 74605-220, Goiânia, Brazil. elismaur@ufg.br.
authors.forename: Elismauro Francisco
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Mendonça
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Oral cancer; Preventive dentistry; Radiotherapy; Survival