Effects of oral care on perioperative pediatric cancer patients

Objective: Problems faced by pediatric and adult cancer patients differ, as the former include late-stage complications and development/educational issues derived from a longer course of disease after treatment. Oral care, aiming to enhance patients’ QOL, is likely to be effective to address problems specific to pediatric cancer patients. This study examined the effects of specialized oral care to improve such patients’ oral environments and QOL. Methods: Pediatric cancer in patients receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy in our University Hospital Medical Center for Children, for whom specialized oral care had been requested, were studied. The contents of the specialized oral care for them included: brushing guidance, dental tartar removal, and oral moistening, gargling guidance, and/or dental treatment in accordance with the type of oncological treatment. Before and after care, oral environments were assessed using an original sheet, while measuring oral moisture and bacterial levels, and conducting a questionnaire survey on patient satisfaction. The assessment sheet consisted of Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG) items, in addition to those regarding halitosis, the mouth-opening degree, dental condition, changes in the gustatory sense, and oral mucositis. For the questionnaire survey, the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ) 8-10 sheet was used to comprehensively evaluate the pediatric patients’ oral health-related QOL. Results: The mean oral assessment score decreased after care, while there were no changes in the oral moisture or bacterial level. Regarding the questionnaire, the mean overall score decreased after care. Decreases were also observed in the score for each question with increases in the number of intervention sessions. Conclusion: The maintenance and improvement of oral hygiene through specialized oral care are important to appropriately treat late-stage complications and provide health management education for pediatric cancer patients. In this study, specialized oral care was effective to improve such patients’ QOL. *Correspondence to: Toshiro Yamamoto, Department of Dental Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, 465, Kajii-cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan, Tel: 81752515641; Fax: 81752515641; E-mail: yamamoto@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp