Nurses' knowledge on assessment and management of cancer therapy-associated oral mucositis

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore baseline nursing knowledge on assessment and management of patients at risk for developing cancer therapy-associated oral mucositis (OM) at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Design: A descriptive generic qualitative study design was conducted. The study population were nurses who cared for patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods: Participants were recruited using a purposive non-probability sampling technique. Data were obtained through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured interview guide. Data collection and analysis were done concurrently. Results: The study found that nurses had knowledge on the pre-treatment assessment of clients undergoing cancer treatment; however, they had insufficient knowledge on the standardized tool for the assessment of OM. They also lack a definitive approach to prevent and treat OM. Nurses provided general education on cancer treatment but paid little attention to the education on the possible side effect that includes OM. Additionally, insufficient knowledge level of nurses on cancer treatment-associated mucositis and lack of structured protocol for OM coupled with unavailable tools for assessing the oral mucosa were also identified as militating against the management of OM. Findings from this study will guide policy that will improve the care that clients who are at risk of oral mucositis receive.