Journal article
Patterns of oral and dental care education and utilization in head and neck cancer patients
Supportive care in cancer, Vol.26(8), pp.2591-2603
08/01/2018
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4099-z
PMID: 29455300
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of oral health care among patients undergoing oral cancer therapy in order to better understand how oral care is being utilized, what types of providers are being utilized at various stages of cancer therapy, and assessing patients' satisfaction with the care they received at these stages.
Methods An online survey was conducted via the Oral Cancer Foundation's support group message board. Participants were asked about their oral care immediately prior to cancer therapy, during cancer therapy, and post cancer therapy. The participants were also given the opportunity to provide open response feedback on their oral care which was analyzed qualitatively.
Results Seventy-four participants completed the survey. Participants reported being informed that they needed to receive an oral evaluation 72.6 and 53.6% of the time in the pre- and post-treatment stages, respectively. Compliance with this recommendation was 71.2% pre cancer therapy but dropped precipitously to 49.2% post cancer therapy. Pre- and post-therapy oral care was provided most commonly by the patient's usual dentist 41.1 and 55.9%, respectively, with medical providers predominating the treatment phase, 77.7%. Patients reported dissatisfaction rates of 29.0, 20.6, and 21.0% sequentially.
Conclusions There is a general lack of consistency with how, when, and from whom oral cancer patients receive their oral health education. It is likely that this contributes to insufficient education resulting in high levels of patient dissatisfaction with their oral care.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Patterns of oral and dental care education and utilization in head and neck cancer patients
- Creators
- Joel B. Epstein - City Of Hope National Medical CenterDerek K. Smith - Vanderbilt University Medical CenterDana Villines - Advocate Health CareIra Parker - Geriatr Oncol Solut, La Jolla, CA USAJeff Hameroff - Emery OleochemicalsBrian R. Hill - Nancy Yeary Women's Cancer Research FoundationBarbara A. Murphy - Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Supportive care in cancer, Vol.26(8), pp.2591-2603
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00520-018-4099-z
- PMID
- 29455300
- NLM abbreviation
- Support Care Cancer
- ISSN
- 0941-4355
- eISSN
- 1433-7339
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- MedActive Pharmaceuticals, Spring Hill, FL
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2018
- Academic Unit
- Preventive and Community Dentistry; Dental Research
- Record Identifier
- 9984966755902771
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