Assessment of Training Requirements on Oral Mucositis in Hematology Patients

Purpose: This study was planned for assessment of information requirements towards oral care and oral mucositis of hematology patients who receive or are planned to receive chemotherapy. Materials and Method: The study was conducted with patients that receive in-patient and out-patient treatment at Hematology Unit of a private hospital in Istanbul between May 2023-July 2023. Sample group of this descriptive study was composed of 102 hematology patients aged 18 or above who had been or just started to receive chemotherapy and who agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected using 'Structured Questionnaire Form" developed by the author in line with the literature. According to results of the study, patients were in 18-91 age group and 51 of the patients were female. Age, profession, having prosthetics in mouth were among basic risk factors in emergence of oral mucositis. It was determined that doctors and nurses were the basic information source of patients on side effects of chemotherapy or transplantation such as oral mucositis. It was determined that they had basic information on etiology and development of oral mucositis, used gargle and toothbrush towards protecting oral mucositis, while having lack of information on special methods and oral mucositis assessment. Result: Planning suitable oral care methods, regular assessment of oral mucositis to protect oral and dental health, written and verbal training programs for patients in certain intervals before start of treatment processes could be recommended