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Observational Study
. 2021 Aug;29(8):4357-4364.
doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05903-1. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Oral symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: an observational study using a novel oral symptom assessment scale

Andrew Davies  1 , Alison Buchanan  2 , Jennifer Todd  3 , Amanda Gregory  4 , Kabir Mohammed Batsari  2
Affiliations
Observational Study

Oral symptoms in patients with advanced cancer: an observational study using a novel oral symptom assessment scale

Andrew Davies et al. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to utilise a novel oral assessment tool (the Oral Symptom Assessment Scale/OSAS) to investigate oral symptoms in a cohort of advanced cancer patients receiving specialist palliative care.

Methods: Participants were asked to complete the OSAS, which asks about the presence of 20 oral symptoms in the previous week (and, if present, about the frequency, the severity, and the amount of distress caused by the symptoms). Patients were also asked to complete the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale - Short Form, and to rate their performance status.

Results: Two hundred fifty participants completed the study, and 244 (97.5%) participants reported at least one oral symptom on the OSAS. The median number of oral symptoms reported was five (range, 1 to 18), with dry mouth being the most common symptom (83.5% participants). The total number of oral symptoms was higher in younger participants (p = 0.012), female participants (p = 0.048), and those with a worse performance status (p < 0.001). No other oral symptoms were reported by more than two participants. Statistical analysis identified a number of potential oral symptom clusters.

Conclusions: Oral symptoms (and related oral problems) are common in patients with advanced cancer, and are associated with significant morbidity in this group of patients.

Trial registration: CancerTrials.gov registry reference number: NCT04404920.

Keywords: Neoplasms; Oral care; Oral health; Palliative care.

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References

    1. Davies A (2010) Oral care in advanced cancer patients. In: Davies AN, Epstein JB (eds) Oral complications of cancer and its management. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 279–289 - DOI
    1. Kirkova J, Davis MP, Walsh D, Tiernan E, O’Leary N, LeGrand SB, Lagman RL, Russell KM (2006) Cancer symptom assessment instruments: a systematic review. J Clin Oncol 24:1459–1473 - DOI
    1. Shah S, Davies AN (2001) Medical records vs. patient self-rating. J Pain Symptom Manag 22:805–806 - DOI
    1. Davies A, Epstein J (2010) Introduction. In: Davies AN, Epstein JB (eds) Oral complications of cancer and its management. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 1–9 - DOI
    1. Rydholm M, Strang P (2002) Physical and psychosocial impact of xerostomia in palliative cancer care: a qualitative interview study. Int J Palliat Nurs 8:318–323 - DOI

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