Supportive cryotherapy nursing intervention toward diminishing oral mucositis and associated pain among patients with cancer

Background Oral mucositis is a common problem with chemotherapy treatment. Cryotherapy is supportive in oncology, by preventing chemotherapy-induced complications such as oral mucositis and its related pain, through placing ice chips in the mouth. Aim To evaluate the effect of supportive cryotherapy nursing intervention toward diminishing oral mucositis and associated pain among patients with cancer. Design A quasi-experimental design was used. Setting The study was carried out at the chemotherapy outpatient clinic affiliated to El-Nasr Health Insurance Hospital, Helwan. Sample A purposive sample of 60 patients was equally divided into two groups: cryotherapy and control. Tools Four tools were used: (a) structured interview questionnaire, which included patient demographic characteristic and medical history; (b) the WHO oral mucositis assessment scale; (c) the oral assessment guide; and (d) the visual analog pain scale. Results There was a statistically significant difference in incidence and severity of oral mucositis and pain between cryotherapy and control groups at 7, 14, and 21 days of chemotherapy. Moreover, there were highly statistically significant differences in mean scores of oral assessments between both groups throughout the study phases. Conclusion Supportive cryotherapy nursing intervention for patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy had a positive effect on diminishing oral mucositis and associated pain in the cryotherapy group compared with the control group. Recommendations Training courses should be conducted for oncology patients receiving chemotherapy drugs about applying oral cryotherapy. Moreover, further research studies are recommended on a wider scale to counsel patients with cancer about the effect of oral cryotherapy on oral mucositis with recent chemotherapy treatment.