Evidence Based Methods for Oral Mucositis in Children with Cancer: Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the studies using evidence-based practice for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis (OM) in children with cancer. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted between August 2017 and February 2018 through the databases of the University of Ankara Library and Documentation Department (Medline, OVID, EBSCOhost, Science Direct, Ulakbim National Databases). Studies were evaluated using the evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: a guide to best practice. RESULTS: There were 14 different methods for prevention and treatment of OM in children with cancer. 62.5% of them were randomized controlled studies and 21.8%, not randomized experimental studies. Plans have been found to be useful in symptom management in most of the examined articles, but some ways have been found inconsistent. DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION: Numerous methods are used for the prevention and treatment of OM in children with cancer. However, the limited number of the studies and inconsistency of the results prevents the establishment of a standard oral care protocol for OM