Using chamomile for alleviating oral mucositis among patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy

Background Radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis remains one of the main and most common adverse effects affecting all patients receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). Aim To evaluate the use of chamomile on alleviating oral mucositis among patients with HNC receiving radiotherapy. Design A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group interrupted time series design was utilized. Research hypotheses H1: patients who receive chamomile gel will have a statistically significant difference regarding oral mucositis grade compared with the control group who receive only routine hospital care. H2: patients who receive chamomile gel will have statistically significant lower mean severity scores of pain intensity associated with oral mucositis compared with those who receive only routine hospital care. H3: patients who receive chamomile gel will have statistically significant lower mean severity scores of patient-reported oral mucositis symptoms compared with those who receive only routine hospital care. Sample A convenient sample of 60 patients with HNC was recruited along 6 months. Tools Four tools were used to collect data: Structured Interview Questionnaire, National Cancer Institute Scoring for Mucositis, Patient-Reported Oral Mucositis Symptoms Scale, and Pain Numeric Rating Scale-11. Results In spite of the increase in oral mucositis grade among the study and the control groups, there was a statistically significant difference between both groups, and the increase in oral mucositis grade in the study group was significantly less than the control group. Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference in pain severity mean scores, as well as patient-reported oral mucositis symptom mean scores in favor of the study group that received chamomile gel compared with the control group that received only routine hospital care. Conclusion Chamomile gel was effective in reducing oral mucositis grade, severity of pain, as well as patient-reported oral mucositis symptoms in the study group compared with the control group.