Oral Care Management of Head and Neck Cancer Patients at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia: A 7-Year Retrospective Study
10.21315/aos2022.1701.OA02
- Author:
Huikai Chew
1
;
Kasmawati Mokhtar
1
;
Yew Hin Beh
2
,
3
;
Wan Mohd Nazri Wan Zainon
4
;
Azirrawani Ariffin
1
Author Information
1. School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
2. School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia &
3. Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy and Oncology, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Chemotherapy;
Head and neck cancer;
Oral complication;
Oral management;
Radiation therapy
- MeSH:
Head and Neck Neoplasms--therapy;
Dental Care
- From:Archives of Orofacial Sciences
2022;17(1):47-59
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
ABSTRACT:Head and neck cancer patients require oral assessment and management prior, during and after cancer
treatment to minimise oral complications. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic data,
oral health management, oral complications derived from cancer treatment, time frame in completing
dental treatment and association between oral management and complications. Purposive record
sampling of head and neck cancer patients who completed radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy at
Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) from 2011 to 2017 were reviewed. A checklist was used
to record the data and analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square test. A number
of 194 patient records were reviewed with majority were Malays (88.1%), males (61.3%) with the
mean age of 57.18 years old. Only 21% of the patients had oral assessment prior to cancer treatment.
About 84% of the referred patients were dentally fit within 1 month. Mucositis and fungal infections
were the most prevalent complications. The relationship between oral assessment prior to cancer
treatment and oral complications was not significant (p = 0.134). Despite the insignificant association
due to several limitations, oral assessment and management prior, during and after cancer therapy
are recognised as crucial for improving quality of life. A standard institutional operating procedure is
recommended to improve patient care.
- Full text:2.2022my0005.pdf
