The Effects of Flash Animation Facilitated Oral Self Care Education on the Incidence of Oral Mucositis and Performance of Self-Care in Pediatric Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of oral self-care education on the oral mucositis and oral self-care performance in pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: We conducted the study using the nonequivalent control group and non-synchronized design, and invited pediatric cancer patients, admitted to a university hospital for chemotherapy, to participate in the study. Data collection was completed for the control group first and proceeded to the experimental group. The data were collected from September 24 to November 5, 2015. Twenty children were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The children in the experimental group, along with their parents, were provided with a 10-minute flash animation and a brochure, both explaining oral self-care practices. Children in the groups were evaluated for the status of oral mucositis and their ability to perform oral self-care before chemotherapy, as well as at 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the administration of chemotherapy. Descriptive statistics, t-test, chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and repeated measures ANOVA were utilized to test the homogeneity of variance between the two groups and examine the effectiveness of the oral self-care education. RESULTS: Children in the experimental group showed significant improvement in oral self-care performance compared to the control group post oral self-care education. CONCLUSION: Promoting oral self-care practices is an important nursing intervention in the prevention of oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients. Inclusion of advanced smart technology, such as the use of flash animation, to facilitate nursing intervention could enhance the effectiveness of the intervention in young cancer patients. Broader application of smart technology in patient education is warranted.