Perception of Pediatric Oncological Patients and Their Parents/Guardians about a Hospital Oral Health Program: A Qualitative Study Perception About an Oral Health Program

Abstract

Background:The oral healthcare offered to pediatric cancer patients at the hospital level must include educational and preventive strategies based on dialogical and welcoming professional attitudes. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the perception of pediatric cancer patients and their parents/guardians about an educational and preventive oral healthcare program implemented in a reference hospital for cancer treatment. Methods: A qualitative follow-up investigation was conducted in which we evaluated the perception of pediatric cancer patients and their parents/guardians regarding an educational and preventive oral health program (OHEPP). The participants were 27 children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment and their parents/guardians, and the assessment was carried out at 15 and 30 days after beginning the program through semi-structured interviews. The program used audiovisual resources, storytelling and playful instruments for the oral health education of patients and parents/guardians. The interviews were then transcribed and the Discourse of the Collective Speech (DCS) technique was performed for data analysis. Results: Patients and parents/guardians reported improvement in oral hygiene habits and conditions. Patients reported greater enthusiasm for oral care and highlighted the recreational aspect of the program. Parents/guardians reported being more clear about oral changes and paying attention to the appearance of comorbidities resulting from anticancer treatment. Conclusions: This study suggests that implementation of the oral health program favored communication between health professionals, patients and their parents/guardians, expanding knowledge and generating behavior change in oral healthcare.

Parents' oral care practices and oral health profiles of pediatric cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

“…Most parents describe oral hygiene moments as stressful for their children and for themselves. In younger children, parents must perform oral care accompanied by play activities (eg storytelling, playing music, composing puzzles) and using fun instruments (Robertson et al, 2019;Sampaio et al, 2021). Children need parents to maintain oral hygiene and health because of their limited knowledge and abilities.…”

A hospital‐based oral health education program impacts in pediatric cancer patients—A pilot study

“…A detailed description of the oral health education and preventive program (OHEPP) analyzed in our study can be found elsewhere. 15,20 The data were entered into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Mean MGI and VPI values as well as the frequency distribution and mean OAG scores for each of the eight assessment sites were compared at baseline and throughout the 10 weeks of follow-up.…”

“…A detailed description of the oral health education and preventive program (OHEPP) analyzed in our study can be found elsewhere 15,20 …”

Manifestações orais em pacientes oncológicos pediátricos: revisão de literatura

“…Nos estudos da amostra, os pesquisadores apontaram que o tratamento oncológico em pacientes pediátricos pode ocasionar possíveis complicações e efeitos colaterais podendo ser na forma aguda ou crônica, uma vez que esta população está na fase de crescimento e desenvolvimento. Outro ponto de convergência entre os pesquisadores foi sobre a ocorrência de complicações bucais em crianças ser de três vezes maior que em adultos, devido à alta atividade celular mitótica (Damascena, et al, 2018;Garrocho-rangel, et al, 2018;Garrocho-rangel, et al, 2018;Ribeiro, et al, 2019;Afshar, et al, 2020;Sampaio, et al, 2022;Lima, et al, 2022).…”

“…O tratamento antineoplásico pode induzir dano celular no epitélio, mucosa oral e estruturas glandulares prejudicando suas funções e, consequentemente, promovendo alterações, que se manifestam como complicação estomatológica nos pacientes (Welter, et al, 2019). Dentre as complicações orais, encontram-se a mucosite, a osteorradionecrose, infecções oportunistas como a candidíase, xerostomia, doenças periodontais, perda ou diminuição do paladar e trismo, que tornam-se muito comuns em pacientes submetidos a essas modalidades de tratamento as quais, são responsáveis por gerar um enorme desconforto ao paciente, principalmente ao tratar se de pacientes infantis (Lopes, et al,2012;Do Nascimento, et al, 2013;Azhe, et al,, 2013;Dholam, et al, 2014;Pinto, et al,, 2014;Rosso, et al,2015;Melo Júnior, et al,2016;Murshid, et al,2017;Ribeiro, et al, 2017;Costa, et al, 2018;Damascena, et al,2018;Garrocho-rangel, et al, 2018;Garrocho-rangel, et al, 2018;Ribeiro, et al, 2019;Afshar, et al, 2020;Ribeiro, et al, 2020;Damascena, et al, 2020;Velten, et al, 2017;Pinto, et al, 2018;Aggarwal & Keerthilatha, 2018;Welter, et al, 2019;Ali, 2019;De Oliveira Ponte, et al, 2019;Wang, et al, 2021;Guedes, et al, 2021;Sampaio, et al, 2022;Lima, et al, 2022).…”