Effect of Ice Chips on Severity of Chemotherapy Induced Oral Mucositis

Tharwat Mohamed, Eman; Fawzy Hanafy, Naglaa; Magdi Farghaly, Shimaa; Abdou Mahmoud, Inas

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2024.379333

Effect of Ice Chips on Severity of Chemotherapy Induced Oral Mucositis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer in Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University

² Assistant Professor in Medical Surgical Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University

³ Lecturer of clinical oncology Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

10.21608/ejhc.2024.379333

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy is a common cancer treatment, yet it can cause adverse medication responses, such as mucositis of the mouth. This may have a profound effect on treatment outcomes and patients’ quality of life by altering their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Oral cooling using ice chips is a common low-cost, easy-to-use technique that helps reduce oral mucositis (OM) from developing and is unlikely to have any negative side effects. Aim: To evaluate the effect of ice chips on severity of chemotherapy induced oral mucositis. Design: Time-series quasi-experimental design was utilized to achieve the aim of the current study. Setting: Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Department at El kasr Al Eini University Hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Sample: A purposive sample of 60 adult male and female patients who received Platinol chemotherapy for the first time and fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Tools: Four tools were utilized: (1) Personal Data Assessment Form, (2) WHO Oral Mucositis Grading Scale, (3) Patient Reported Oral Mucositis Symptoms (PROMS) Scale, and (4) Numeric Pain Intensity Scale. Results: Highly statistical significant differences were observed between study and control group after applying ice ships at the end of 1st, 2nd & 3rd weeks of intervention with a P value= 0.000. A marked decline was also observed in the OM symptoms mean scores in the study group when compared to the control group at the end of 1st, 2nd & 3rd weeks of intervention. Conclusion: Highly statistical significant differences were observed between study and control group regarding oral mucositis grades, symptoms severity mean scores and pain intensity mean scores throughout the measurement time. Recommendation: Ice ships can be recommended as safe, cheap, and easy applicable method for reducing the severity of OM among patients with cancer receiving Platinol chemotherapy.

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