The Effects of Oral Cryotherapy on Nausea, Vomiting, Oral Mucositis, and Oral Pain in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether repeated oral cryotherapy was effective in reducing nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, and oral pain in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy during the 1st, 2nd , and 3rd rounds of chemotherapy for the first time. Methods: A nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. The experimental group (n=21) received oral cryotherapy that applied a 2x2x2 cm ice cube in the mouth for 30 minutes at each chemotherapy. Both experimental group and control group (n=20) received oral care educations. Nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis and oral pain were measured on 5 days, 14 days, and 21 days after each chemotherapy. Data were collected from July 2019 to April 2020 at a university hospital in Korea, and analyzed using the SPSS WIN 25.0 software package. Results: There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the nausea.vomiting score, oral mucositis grade, and oral pain score. Oral cryotherapy was confirmed to be effective in delaying nausea and vomiting, It has been shown that stomatitis and oral pain are related. Conclusion: For breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, it is recommended to apply oral cryotherapy as a nursing intervention to reduce nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, and oral pain.