The Effect of Oral Care Intervention in Mucositis Management Among Pediatric Cancer Patients: An Updated Systematic Review

Systematic Review by UNPAD Nursing Researcher Highlights Effective Oral Care Interventions for Pediatric Cancer Patients

Oral mucositis is a common and painful side effect of chemotherapy in children, often leading to complications such as treatment delays, increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life. Despite the availability of various oral care protocols, high-level evidence to guide best practices remains limited, especially in pediatric oncology.

In response to this gap, led by Ikeu Nurhidayah (Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran), in collaboration with researchers from Universitas Indonesia, conducted a systematic review of eight studies published between 2014 and 2023. The review included seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one quasi-experimental study.

The analysis found that oral care interventions, such as tooth brushing, mouthwash, and lip care, conducted 2 to 6 times per day over periods ranging from 5 days to 6 weeks, showed significant benefits in:

-Reducing mucositis severity and pain
-Shortening mucositis duration
-Minimizing analgesic use

Effective agents identified include honey, olive oil, Aloe vera, Andiroba, and salivary enzyme toothpaste. In contrast, Caphosol mouthwash was found to have no significant benefit in reducing mucositis.

This research contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by promoting evidence-based, accessible, and integrative symptom management strategies for children undergoing cancer treatment, particularly relevant in low-resource settings where the cancer burden in children is high.

📄 Full article:
https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S467455