The Effect of Oral Care on Mucositis and Oral Mucosa in Intensive Care Unit Patients According to Individual Oral Care Frequency Assessment

The research was conducted as a randomized, observational drug study to examine the effect of oral care based on individual oral care frequency assessment on mucositis and oral mucosal integrity in intensive care patients, instead of standard oral care practice. Intervention and control groups were used in the study. While performing oral care, which forms the basis of the study, support was received from intensive care nurses with experience in accordance with the procedure steps.

The population of the research consists of patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Intensive Care Unit of Erciyes University Health Application and Research Center.

For the sample size, 21-20 patients were included in the control and intervention groups, respectively, between May 2023 and December 2023.

In the assignment of groups, randomization was planned to be determined by lottery method, and accordingly, patients were assigned to groups with odd bed numbers and even bed numbers. From time to time, patient beds were closed (due to lack of personnel) and no patient admissions could be made. In this case, there could be differences in the characteristics of the patients who could be admitted to each bed. Equivalence of the groups in terms of age, gender and disease characteristics was ensured by randomization.

Applications to the Intervention Group Patients in the intervention group were administered the Patient Information Form, Intensive Care Oral Care Frequency Evaluation Scale, World Health Organization Mucositis Evaluation Form and Oral Evaluation Guide on the first day. Oral care frequency was planned according to the results of the oral care frequency assessment scale. The measurements taken and the planned oral care frequency were recorded in the patient follow-up form. Then, oral care was given at the planned frequency in line with the clinical protocol and according to the results of the Oral Care Frequency Evaluation Scale. Oral care starts with creating a suitable environment; The patient's mouth care swabs were prepared by wetting them with a solution (containing 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate) for each application, 4 equal to each patient. If the patient was conscious, he was given a comfortable position. If he was not conscious, the patient's head was turned towards the person who will perform the procedure. The patient was kept in a side-lying position, and oral care was given to the patient, covering the patient's teeth, inner cheeks, sublingual, gums and all other soft tissues. After the patient's oral care procedure was completed, the procedure was terminated by giving the patient his previous position. Each treatment lasted no less than 2 minutes (min.).