Clinical pharmacists and nurses in the management of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients during antineoplastic therapy: A scoping review.

Abstract

Objective: This scoping review aims to examine studies led or participated in by clinical pharmacists or nurses, investigating the work performed and roles played by clinical pharmacists and nurses in managing patients' adverse reactions such as oral mucositis, summarizing the existing research foundation and evidence.

Methods: This scoping review followed the methodology defined by the Joanna Briggs Institute, and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Literature search was conducted in February 2024 across PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Embase. Two independent researchers initially screened titles and abstracts in Covidence, followed by a full-text review. The extracted information and summaries were organized using Excel.

Results: Twelve publications were included (randomized controls n = 8; retrospective descriptive studies n = 2; prospective cohort studies n = 2). Three publications studied clinical pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care to patients, while nine publications focused on nurses monitoring adverse reactions.

Conclusion: In the chemoradiotherapy of head and neck cancers, the effective prevention and management of oral mucositis are crucial for improving patient prognosis. Clinical pharmacists and nurses, with their expertise and skills, play vital roles in the multidisciplinary treatment team, providing optimized treatment plans and comprehensive care support to patients. The direct care model implemented by pharmacists and nurses effectively alleviates symptoms and enhances the quality of life, thus fostering better treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction.