Effect of Education About Oral Mucositis Given to the Cancer Patients Having Chemotherapy on Life Quality

The study was aimed to determine the effect of education cancer patients receiving chemotherapy for prevention of oral mucositis on the quality of life. A total of 60 patients including 30 patients each in education and control groups were included in this randomized controlled study. On the first day of study, Oral Assessment Guide and EORTC QLQ-C30 Version 3.0 were applied to both groups and also it was trained only the education group for the prevention of oral mucositis and explained Patient Education Booklet. The oral mucosae of both groups were evaluated with Oral Assessment Guide on the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 21st day of chemotherapy. EORTC QLQ-C30 Version 3.0 was again applied to them on the 15th day and on the 21st day of treatment. The frequency of oral mucositis in the education group was less than the control group (p < 0.05). The patients’ quality of life in the education group in the fields of functional and general health status was higher than the control group and the mean of their symptom score was also lower than control group (p < 0.05). The education to be provided training for the patient can have an important role in preventing oral mucositis developed due to chemotherapy.