Attitudes and practices of nurses on a pediatric cancer and stem cell transplant ward: adaptation of an oral care protocol

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study evaluated nurses' current practices and understanding of oral health for hematology and oncology patients. A written questionnaire administered to 33 nurses on the pediatric cancer and blood disorders unit of Children's Medical Center of Dallas included questions on oral evaluation, oral hygiene, and case‐based questions. Information gathered was used to develop an oral care protocol. The study found that nurses were proficient in diagnosing obvious conditions including mucositis and pseudomembranous candidiasis, but they were less than proficient when diagnosing less easily recognizable conditions such as xerostomia. The nurses were found to have inadequate knowledge of the treatment and oral hygiene protocols for conditions that they could and could not diagnose. The protocol based on the questionnaire results included information gathering, oral hygiene protocol, evaluation of viral infection, evaluation of fungal infection, oral assessment guide, and treatment protocol. Through information gathering, an oral health care policy may be developed and implemented to aid in the treatment of children undergoing care for malignancies.