Comprehensive Oral Care Program Improved Oral Health Status and Quality of Life in Head and Neck Cancer Patients with Radiotherapy

Dong-Hun Han^1,2*, Hye-Ju Lee^1,2, Jin-Ho Kim^3,4 and Hong-Gyun Wu^3,4

¹Seoul National University School of Dentistry, South Korea
²Dental Research Institute, South Korea
³Seoul National University College of Medicine, South Korea
⁴Institute of Radiation Medicine, Korea

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the comprehensive oral care program on oral health status and symptoms in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergone radiotherapy.

Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study, using a nonequivalent control group, non-synchronized design. Sixty-one HNC underwent radiotherapy were participated. The experimental group (n=31) was given an oral health education, fluoride varnish application and fluoride mouse rinsing and the control group (n=30) was given an oral health education at baseline, immediate post-radiotherapy, 3 months after radiotherapy and 6 months after radiotherapy. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire H&N35 (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) questionnaire was administered four times. Dental caries, plaque score (PS), bleeding on probing (BOP) and salivary flowrate were evaluated by oral health examination in baseline and 6 months after radiotherapy. Statistical analyses were done by paired t-tests and mixed ANCOVA repeated-measures analysis.

Results: Salivary flow rate was decreased in all; dental caries increased in control group; PS and BOP were decreased in experimental group. We found statistically significant differences in the swallowing, speech and less sexuality in EORTC QLQ-H&N35.

Conclusion: We found improvement in oral health and the quality of life in HNC patients with comprehensive oral care intervention. Communicating and cooperating with the healthcare professionals is needed to raise the quality of health care services for HNC patients receiving radiotherapy.

Biography:
Dr. Dong-Hun Han experienced in research on clinical interventions and public health dentistry, including 40 peer-reviewed articles at high-end dental and public health journals using nationally representing surveys and cohort datasets. His research interests were the interaction of oral health-systemic diseases and the promotion of community oral health as well as oral health equity. In particular, he had been performing research in areas such as the effect of socio-environmental factors on the trend of dental caries, the relationship of the salivary microbiome with oral and systemic diseases and epidemiological analysis.