Effects of Oral Care in Terminal Cancer Patients Shortly Before Death.

IF 1.7 3区医学 Q2 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Gerodontology Pub Date : 2025-08-12 DOI:10.1111/ger.70008

Mieko Okamoto, Hiroko Tanaka, Shigeru Tamura, Daisuke Kanamori, Miyuki Yokoi, Masanobu Usui, Mitsuyoshi Yoshida

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to examine the effects of oral care in patients with terminal cancer approaching death.

Background: Patients with terminal-stage cancer often experience symptoms like oral dryness and candidiasis. Previous studies showed that without professional dental care, oral hygiene significantly worsens within 3 weeks before death. Therefore, oral management is essential for patients with terminal cancer. However, the specific effects of oral hygiene in these patients remain unclear.

Material and methods: Twenty patients were admitted to two palliative care units at our institution between June 2022 and May 2023 and received oral care multiple times before death. Oral hygiene was assessed using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT), and oral dryness was evaluated with an oral moisture checker. The Face Rating Scale (FRS) was assessed before and after professional oral care.

Results: During the week of death, the number of people who were able to speak and follow instructions decreased, while the number who used sedatives and oxygen increased. There was no significant difference in the degree of oral dryness before oral care between the time of hospitalisation and the week of death. However, oral dryness improved significantly after oral care at admission (before: 21.0 ± 8.3, after: 26.7 ± 3.2) and the week of death (before: 16.8 ± 8.4, after: 25.8 ± 3.7). There was no difference in the time taken for oral care or FRS scores at admission and the week of death.

Conclusion: Continuous oral care in patients with terminal cancer can prevent worsening oral hygiene and maintain moisture.

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临终前口腔护理对晚期癌症患者的影响。

目的：探讨口腔护理对临近死亡的晚期癌症患者的影响。背景：晚期癌症患者经常出现口腔干燥和念珠菌病等症状。以前的研究表明，如果没有专业的牙科护理，口腔卫生在死亡前3周内明显恶化。因此，对于晚期癌症患者来说，口服治疗是必不可少的。然而，口腔卫生对这些患者的具体影响尚不清楚。材料和方法：20例患者于2022年6月至2023年5月入住我们机构的两个姑息治疗病房，并在死亡前多次接受口腔护理。使用口腔健康评估工具（OHAT）评估口腔卫生，使用口腔水分测试仪评估口腔干燥。面部评定量表（FRS）在专业口腔护理前后进行评估。结果：在死亡一周内，能够说话和遵循指示的人数减少，而使用镇静剂和氧气的人数增加。在住院时间和死亡周之间，口腔护理前的口腔干燥程度无显著差异。然而，入院时口腔护理（入院前：21.0±8.3，入院后：26.7±3.2）和死亡一周（入院前：16.8±8.4，死亡后：25.8±3.7）后，口腔干燥明显改善。入院时的口腔护理时间和死亡周的FRS评分没有差异。结论：癌症晚期患者持续口腔护理可预防口腔卫生恶化，保持口腔水分。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Gerodontology 医学-老年医学

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

10.00%

发文量

审稿时长

3-6 weeks

期刊介绍： The ultimate aim of Gerodontology is to improve the quality of life and oral health of older people. The boundaries of most conventional dental specialties must be repeatedly crossed to provide optimal dental care for older people. In addition, management of other health problems impacts on dental care and clinicians need knowledge in these numerous overlapping areas. Bringing together these diverse topics within one journal serves clinicians who are seeking to read and to publish papers across a broad spectrum of specialties. This journal provides the juxtaposition of papers from traditional specialties but which share this patient-centred interest, providing a synergy that serves progress in the subject of gerodontology.