Experience of a sore mouth in cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy

Oral mucositis (OM) is the most debilitating and treatment interruptive symptom associated with cancer treatment. The unfortunate outcomes of OM are that patients experience pain and other possible associated symptoms, the placement of feeding tubes. hospitalization, inadvertent breaks in the treatment , and even some patients quit cancer treatment altogether. This was a secondary data analysis of 223 participants from one of four U.S. outpatient treatment centers receiving Cycle 2 or 3 of chemotherapy. This study set out to fill three important gaps in oral mucositis research: (a) describing the outpatient experience of sore mouth (SM), (b) exploring SM symptom association with other symptoms, and (c) exploring an alternative technique of investigating patterns longitudinally (Visual Graphical Analysis (VGA)) and describing those patterns. Findings from this dissertation include the following: Fifty-one percent of the participants (/7 = 115) reported SM. There were significant correlations (p < .0010) between SM severity and the severity of fatigue r(223\ = .40; feeling blue r(223) = .36: feeling anxious r(223) = .28: and trouble sleeping n'223) = .42. There were significant associations (p < .001) between SM distress and distress of fatigue r(223) = .27; feeling blue r(223) = .16: feeling anxious r(223) = .15; and trouble sleeping r(223) = .23. In terms of consequences, there were significant: correlations between SM severity and the number of 8ounce glasses of liquid consumed. r(223) = .85. n = .001: the effect on daily activity, r(223) = .31. n < .001: and time spent lying down down. r(223 i = .39. p = .00:. When VGA was used, seven patterns were identified: Early Onset (n = 17). Middle Onset (n = 43). Late Onset (n = 14). Onset Intensity in = 5), Duration Intensity (7? = 13). Late Duration (n = 19). and Low Intensity in = 36). A small group of patients {n = 14} presented a pattern of two episodes of SM severity occurring during one cycle of chemotherapy. Outpatients receiving chemotherapy experience different patterns and trajectories longitudinally. The knowledge gained from this dissertation will add immensely to the current state of science for mucositis