A recent study evaluated the gingival and periodontal health of chemotherapy patients, focusing on the impact of providing oral hygiene instructions.
This research, published in BMC Oral Health targeted the prevalent issue of oral mucosal disturbances in chemotherapy patients, aiming to enhance their oral care knowledge and practices.
Study Design and Methods
The single-group, pre-post test study enrolled 74 adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Oral hygiene instructions were provided using study models, leaflets, and short videos in the native language. Oral health was assessed at baseline and after six weeks using the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). Data analysis involved Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) and the Wilcoxon Signed-rank test to evaluate changes.
Results
Out of the 74 enrolled patients, 53 (72%) completed the study follow-up. Improvement in the OHI-S was observed in 26% of participants (p-value < 0.001). The GEE analysis identified age, current chemotherapy cycle, education level, and cancer therapy as significant factors associated with changes in OHI-S. Additionally, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated positive changes in the CPI (p-value < 0.001).
Discussion
The findings indicated that a basic oral hygiene instructional intervention effectively improved the oral hygiene of chemotherapy patients. Younger patients showed better outcomes, and the combined treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy was associated with a lower risk of poor oral hygiene. The study highlighted the importance of educational interventions and the role of healthcare providers in supporting the oral health of chemotherapy patients.
Conclusion
The study concluded that oral hygiene instructions significantly improved the oral health of chemotherapy patients, emphasizing the need for regular oral care education. Collaboration between oncology and dental teams was deemed crucial for the comprehensive care of cancer patients, ensuring better health outcomes and quality of life. The authors recommended further large-scale clinical trials to explore the impact of oral hygiene educational interventions in this patient population.
The authors declared having no competing interests.