Congress Abstracts 2005

92

SUCCESSFUL DELAYS OF MUCOSITIS IN HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS RECEIVING RADIATION THERAPY: TOOLS OF COMMUNITY RADIATION NURSES. Maryann Dzibela, RNC, MSN, OCN^®, CCRP, JFK Medical Center, Edison, NJ.

The incidence and severity of radiation induced acute toxicities depends on various factors including combined modality treatment with chemotherapy and site specific sensitivities. Mucositis leads to treatment delays and dose reductions which can decrease the patient’s quality of life and survival probability. Radiation oncology nurses play pivotal roles in delaying and preventing their patient’s severe mucositis.

The purpose of this study is to seek specific interventions and strategies of care in head and neck cancer patients who successfully delayed the onset of acute mucositis during treatment.

The RTOG Mucosal Evaluation and the NCI Common Toxcity Criteria tools were used consistently when evaluating 50 head and neck patients over a three year period. Each intervention and time to mucositis were recorded.

Outcomes were measured by retrospective analysis of head and neck cancer patients’ charts who were evaluated consistently with RTOG and NCI tools for documenting mucositis. Interventions evaluated included patients treated with radioprotectants, mouth rinses, cleansing agents, lubricants and coating agents. The project goal is to prevent or minimize mucositis through the in depth historical data examined.

Findings suggest that the use of consistent tools provides the radiation oncology nurse with the strongest evidence to accurately examine their practice, make changes in interventions and impact the delay of mucositis.