The Self-Management Process for Prevention of Severe Oral Mucositis of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

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  • Doi Fusako
    School of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Social Services, Kanagawa University of Human Services
  • Majima Tomoko
    Graduate School of Nursing, Chiba University

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  • 放射線療法を受ける頭頸部がん患者の口腔粘膜炎重症化予防のための自己管理プロセス

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Abstract

<p>The aim of this study was to explore the self-management process for the prevention of severe oral mucositis of patients receiving radiation for head and neck cancer (HNC), and to obtain suggestions for nursing practices. Semi-structured interviews and reviews of patient records were conducted with ten head and neck cancer patients and data were analyzed using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach.</p><p>The results showed that HNC patients sensed the change in the state of the oral cavity and matched the symptoms with the knowledge and the judgment of medical professionals to acknowledge the changing oral hygiene. The patients, depending on the severity of their symptoms, may have attempted to overcome xerostomia and mucositis, and used conventional methods and ideas to expand their knowledge of the course of symptoms and how to alleviate them. The patients recognized the ongoing therapy status as a positive state, and they had retained the ability to associate the changes with radiotherapy. These results suggest that the patients came to deeply understand the side effects after experiencing them. To promote their self-management, nurses need to know when symptoms appear and need to deliberately ask patients about symptoms.</p>

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