Mucositis Associated With Chemotherapy: Patients’ Needs Assessment

Abstract

Background: One of the main side effects of chemotherapy is oral mucositis, which can lead to unbearable discomfort, an intolerance to food, infection, and poor quality of life. Patients with oral mucositis may also need to take fewer chemotherapy drugs, which will lower their chances of surviving cancer. As a result, needs assessment makes it possible to avert issues or, at the very least, reduce them through suitable early action. Aim: This study aimed to assess needs for patients having chemotherapy induced oral mucositis. Design: A descriptive study design was utilized[1] to achieve the aim of this study. Setting: The study was conducted in the inpatients' department at Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Department, affiliated to Makkah hospital. Subject: A purposive sample of 70 adult patients. Tools of data collection: 1) A structured interview questionnaire 2) Oral assessment guide. Results: The results of this study showed that the studied patients had Physical, Psychological, Social, Spiritual and educational needs (32.9, 64.3, 31.4, 21.4& 54.3 percentages respectively), and nearly one third of studied patients had oral mucositis after chemotherapy administration. Conclusion: The current study concluded that most of the studied patients had Physical, Psychological, Social, Spiritual, educational needs. Recommendations: According to the needs of the patient, the current study suggested formulating guidelines for a protocol aimed at decreasing oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy.