title: Honey and Radiation-Induced Stomatitis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stomatitis is a common oral complication which affects 100% of patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. Acute stomatitis might cause failure and delay radiotherapy. Attention to mouth hygiene, particularly using mouthwash, has a fundamental importance for these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study came to addresses the effects of pure natural honey on radiation-induced stomatitis in patients with a variety of head and neck cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present single-blinded nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted on 105 patients undergoing radiotherapy due to head and neck cancer at the radiation unit of Shafa hospital in Kerman, Iran, from October 2012 to March 2012. The research groups were selected by writing the names of the protocols (the mouthwashes of chamomile, honey and the common caring protocol at ward which uses water) on three cubes. The first extracted cube was related to the chamomile mouthwash (Matrica), the second to the honey mouthwash and the last cube to the water mouthwash. The first experimental group (n = 35) gurgled a solution containing 20 mL diluted honey, the second group gurgled a solution containing German chamomile, and the 35 patients in the control group were advised to gurgle 20 mL water (the ward routine).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that severe stomatitis in groups of honey, chamomile and control was 0, 5.7%, and 17.6%, respectively. On the 14th day, it was 0, 0, and 17.6%, respectively. There were significant differences between the three groups regarding the severity of stomatitis in the 14th day (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of natural honey is effective in managing and preventing radiation-induced stomatitis in patients with head and neck cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahramnezhad
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dehghan Nayeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shiva Sadat
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bassampour
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mahboobeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khajeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Parvaneh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Asgari
keywords: Head and Neck Neoplasm; Honey; Mouth; Radiotherapy; Stomatitis