Tayyem, A.Q. (2014). Cryotherapy effect on oral mucositis severity among recipients of bone marrow transplantation: A literature review. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 18, E84–E87.

DOI Link

Purpose

STUDY PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of cryotherapy on oral mucositis in patients receiving myeloablative conditioning followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT)

TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review

Search Strategy

DATABASES USED: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Nursing Ovid, PubMed, Springer, and Science Direct
 
KEYWORDS: Cryotherapy, oral cryotherapy, myeloablative, bone marrow transplant, hematopoietic stem cell transplant, oral mucositis, prevent oral mucositis
 
INCLUSION CRITERIA: English language articles; myeloablative conditioning followed by BMT; studies must use cryotherapy during and after chemotherapy
 
EXCLUSION CRITERIA: No exclusion criteria was noted.

Literature Evaluated

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: The total number of initial articles retrieved not noted.
 
EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Four articles were randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and two were quasi-experimental studies. Middle-range theory (symptom management theory) was used.

Sample Characteristics

FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED = 6
 
TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW = 475
 
SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 46–126 patients
 
KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: All samples in the six studies were divided into experimental and control groups.

Phase of Care and Clinical Applications

PHASE OF CARE: Active antitumor treatment

Results

1.Gori et al., 2007, RCT: No difference between groups
2. Mori et al., 2008, quasi-experimental: Possible improvement in reducing incidence of moderate to severe oral mucositis with high-dose cytarabine
3. Salvador et al., 2012, RCT: Oral mucositis significantly lower in experimental group
4. Svanberg et al., 2007, RCT: Significantly lower total opioid doses and less severe oral mucositis in experimental group
5. Svanberg et al., 2010, RCT: Significantly lower oral mucositis severity, length of hospital stay and use of parenteral nutrition in experimental group
6. Vokurka et al., 2011, quasi-experimental: Significantly lower oral mucositis incidence and severity in experimental group

Conclusions

Oral cryotherapy before, during, and after chemotherapy infusion reduced oral mucositis incidence, severity, and pain.  

Limitations

Small number of studies was looked at. Three of the six studies were greater than five years old.

Nursing Implications

Cryotherapy is a simple, low-cost, effective way of decreasing mucositis in some patients. The proper administration of cryotherapy is important for the best results possible. Nurses need to understand the instructions of how and when to administer cryotherapy and enlist the patient's and caregivers' help in administering it.

Legacy ID

4917