Oral Care Management of Head and Neck Cancer Patients at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia: A 7-Year Retrospective Study

ABSTRACT@#Head and neck cancer patients require oral assessment and management prior, during and after cancer treatment to minimise oral complications. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate sociodemographic data, oral health management, oral complications derived from cancer treatment, time frame in completing dental treatment and association between oral management and complications. Purposive record sampling of head and neck cancer patients who completed radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) from 2011 to 2017 were reviewed. A checklist was used to record the data and analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Chi-square test. A number of 194 patient records were reviewed with majority were Malays (88.1%), males (61.3%) with the mean age of 57.18 years old. Only 21% of the patients had oral assessment prior to cancer treatment. About 84% of the referred patients were dentally fit within 1 month. Mucositis and fungal infections were the most prevalent complications. The relationship between oral assessment prior to cancer treatment and oral complications was not significant (p = 0.134). Despite the insignificant association due to several limitations, oral assessment and management prior, during and after cancer therapy are recognised as crucial for improving quality of life. A standard institutional operating procedure is recommended to improve patient care.

Result and Current Status of Medical and Dental Cooperation in Rural Core Hospital without a Dental Department / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

<p><b>Aims: </b>To verify the significance of medical and dental cooperation over the past 10 years in Haramachi Red Cross hospital, which does not have a dental department. We will also investigate the situation of inpatients' oral cavities in our hospital. From these results, we will discuss future activities about medical and dental cooperation.</p><p><b>Methods: </b>We analyzed questionnaire and the field survey data related to medical and dental cooperation. We also compared the current oral assessments by a dentist and the past assessments without a dentist.</p><p><b>Results: </b>A dental hygienist has participated in NST (Nutrition Support Team) rounds at our hospital since 2005. From then, we started oral assessments for inpatients and we recommend for patients to visit a dentist before surgery or chemotherapy. Furthermore, we have held oral care seminars for medical staff. As a result, medical staff have demonstrated an improvement in awareness and technique for oral care. Since 2013, a dentist from the Agatsumagun Dental Association has started oral assessments for preoperative inpatients at our hospital. However, we found that the frequency of problems in their oral cavities and that of postoperative pneumonia have not decreased.</p><p><b>Conclusion: </b>Medical and dental cooperation is effective for our hospital. We think that it is important not only to promote medical and dental cooperation, but also to perform a dental checkup and educate the general population on periodontal disease.</p>