Oral Care Interventions in PEG-Fed Palliative Care Patients

Patients receiving enteral nutrition through a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube may experience oral health problems because of reduced oral intake, underlying disease, functional limitations, and dependence on oral care. Maintaining oral mucosal integrity is therefore an important component of nursing care in palliative care settings.

This pilot study will evaluate and compare three oral care interventions used in clinical practice in PEG-fed palliative care patients. The study will focus on changes in oral mucosal integrity, including erythema and ulceration. The findings will provide preliminary information on the effects of these interventions and may help inform the design of a future larger randomized controlled trial.

Inclusion criteria

Aged 18 years or older Hospitalized in the palliative care unit Receiving enteral nutrition via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and expected to continue PEG feeding during the study follow-up period Able to undergo baseline oral cavity assessment No clinical condition preventing the planned oral care intervention No known allergy or hypersensitivity to the components of the assigned oral care intervention Written informed consent provided by the patient or legally authorized representative

Exclusion criteria

Active severe bleeding in the oral cavity Extensive traumatic or surgical lesions in the oral cavity that prevent implementation of the oral care intervention Severe oral mucositis or oral tissue necrosis that prevents implementation of the intervention Uncontrolled bleeding risk or clinically significant coagulopathy Terminal agitation or clinical instability that prevents safe implementation of oral care Development of a clinical condition during follow-up that requires discontinuation of the assigned oral care intervention