The effect of comprehensive oral care program on oral health and quality of life in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: A quasi-experimental case-control study.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the comprehensive oral care program on oral health status and symptoms in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing radiotherapy. METHODS This was a quasi-experimental study using a non-equivalent control group in non-synchronized design. All participants including control and experimental group were asked for the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire HN PS and BOP were decreased in experimental group (P < .001 and .004, respectively). Experimental group showed lower swallowing, speech problems, and less sexuality scores in EORTC QLQ-H&N35 than control group. CONCLUSION We found improvement in oral health and the quality of life in HNC patients with comprehensive oral care intervention by dental professionals. Communicating and cooperating between the healthcare and dental professionals is needed to raise the quality of health care services for HNC patients receiving radiotherapy.