Motor Alterations Favor the Occurrence of Oral Mucositis in Pediatric Oncology Patients

ABSTRACT

Objective: To identify the predictive factors for the appearance of oral mucositis (OM) in pediatric oncology patients based on their motor alterations. Material and Methods: This study was an observational, cross-sectional study with 2-19-year-old patients undergoing treatment at the pediatric oncology outpatient service of the Napoleão Laureano Hospital in João Pessoa, Brazil. The convenience sample consisted of 42 patients aged 2 to 19 years with a first diagnosis of cancer and under treatment. The instruments used were a questionnaire with sociodemographic questions - the modified Oral Assessment Guide (OAG) - and some categories of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (CIF), applied by a calibrated examiner (Kappa>0.65). The data were organized in Excel spreadsheet and analyzed descriptively and inferentially using logistic regression (α=5%). Results: Most patients were female (52.4%, n=22), mean age of 11.6 years, median 12.0 years, self-declared as non-white (61.9%, n=26), non-white (66.7%, n=28), family monthly income of up to 2 Brazilian minimum wages (88.1%, n = 37). Most patients presented hematologic neoplasia (54.8%, n=23) with acute lymphoid leukemia (36.6%; n=15) and most of them were subjected to chemotherapy (45.2%; n = 19). OAG identified oral mucositis in a few cases (23.8%, n=10). Logistic regression and odds ratio showed that individuals with moderate and mild difficulty in changing basic body position had, respectively, 19.7 and 30.8 times more chances of developing oral mucositis. In patients with severe motor impairment, this risk is 17.3 times greater and those with mild difficulty in taking care of the bodily parts had an increase of 33.4 times the risk for oral mucositis. Conclusion: The deficit in motor activities increased the chances of developing oral mucositis.