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NCT Number: NCT03481647

Evaluation of an Oral Care Programme for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

This study will evaluate the effect of an intensified oral care programme on prevalence, severity and duration of mucositis in patients undergoing treatment for cancer in the head and neck region.

Patients in the control group get professional oral care once a week.

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Key information

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site

Age range

18 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Institute of odontology, Gothenburg, Sweden

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About this study

This study will evaluate the effect of an oral care programme on prevalence, severity and duration of mucositis in patients undergoing treatment for cancer in the head and neck region. The oral care programme consists of professional oral care and swabbing of the mucosal membranes with a saline/bicarbonate solution once a week. The patients are instructed to rinse with a saline/bicarbonate solution 5 times per day. They are given an oral care diary to help them keep track of their daily oral hygiene measures and rinses. Repeated oral hygiene instructions are given if needed.

Patients in the control group get professional oral care once a week.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients scheduled to receive full dose of curative RT including major salivary glands in the radiation field

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with recurrent cancer
  • Patients with severe cognitive impairment.

Treatment and study plan

Oral care programme

Procedure

Professional oral care (dental hygienist), intensified oral care measures by the patient

Primary outcomes

  1. Oral mucositis

    Time frame: First week of RT (mucositis score at one time-point)

    Reduced incidence of clinical mucositis assessed using Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (9 areas in the mouth are examined and signs of ulceration are scored; 0=no lesion,1= lesion <1cm2, 2=lesion 1-3 cm2, 3=lesion > 3 cm2 as well as erythema, which is scored as follows: 0=no erythema, 1= mild erythema and 2=severe erythema. Total score for ulceration can vary from 0-27 and for erythema from 0-18. Mucositis is present at scores ≥ 1.)

  2. Oral mucositis

    Time frame: Second week of RT (mucositis score at one time-point)

    Reduced incidence of clinical mucositis assessed using Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (9 areas in the mouth are examined and signs of ulceration are scored; 0=no lesion,1= lesion <1cm2, 2=lesion 1-3 cm2, 3=lesion > 3 cm2 as well as erythema, which is scored as follows: 0=no erythema, 1= mild erythema and 2=severe erythema. Total score for ulceration can vary from 0-27 and for erythema from 0-18. Mucositis is present at scores ≥ 1.)

  3. Oral mucositis

    Time frame: Third week of RT (mucositis score at one time-point)

    Reduced incidence of clinical mucositis assessed using Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (9 areas in the mouth are examined and signs of ulceration are scored; 0=no lesion,1= lesion <1cm2, 2=lesion 1-3 cm2, 3=lesion > 3 cm2 as well as erythema, which is scored as follows: 0=no erythema, 1= mild erythema and 2=severe erythema. Total score for ulceration can vary from 0-27 and for erythema from 0-18. Mucositis is present at scores ≥ 1.)

  4. Oral mucositis

    Time frame: Fourth week of RT (mucositis score at one time-point)

    Reduced incidence of clinical mucositis assessed using Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (9 areas in the mouth are examined and signs of ulceration are scored; 0=no lesion,1= lesion <1cm2, 2=lesion 1-3 cm2, 3=lesion > 3 cm2 as well as erythema, which is scored as follows: 0=no erythema, 1= mild erythema and 2=severe erythema. Total score for ulceration can vary from 0-27 and for erythema from 0-18. Mucositis is present at scores ≥ 1.)

  5. Oral mucositis

    Time frame: Fifth week of RT (mucositis score at one time-point)

    Reduced incidence of clinical mucositis assessed using Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (9 areas in the mouth are examined and signs of ulceration are scored; 0=no lesion,1= lesion <1cm2, 2=lesion 1-3 cm2, 3=lesion > 3 cm2 as well as erythema, which is scored as follows: 0=no erythema, 1= mild erythema and 2=severe erythema. Total score for ulceration can vary from 0-27 and for erythema from 0-18. Mucositis is present at scores ≥ 1.)

  6. Oral mucositis

    Time frame: Sixth week of RT (mucositis score at one time-point)

    Reduced incidence of clinical mucositis assessed using Oral Mucositis Assessment Scale (9 areas in the mouth are examined and signs of ulceration are scored; 0=no lesion,1= lesion <1cm2, 2=lesion 1-3 cm2, 3=lesion > 3 cm2 as well as erythema, which is scored as follows: 0=no erythema, 1= mild erythema and 2=severe erythema. Total score for ulceration can vary from 0-27 and for erythema from 0-18. Mucositis is present at scores ≥ 1.)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Annica Almståhl, Assoc.prof

CONTACT

[email protected]

+46317863208

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Göteborg University

Other

Collaborators

  • Kalmar County Hospital
  • Malmö University
  • Norrlands University Hospital
  • Region Jönköping County
  • Ryhov County Hospital
  • Swedish Cancer Foundation
  • TUA research funding: The Sahlgrenska Academy/Region Västra Götaland
  • The Sjöberg Foundation

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of an Oral Care Programme for Patients Undergoing Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer Regarding Mucositis, Oral Health, Epigenetic Modifications, Patient-related Factors, Quality of Life and Health Economy

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 29, 2018
Registry last updated
Apr 20, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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