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Aim: The aims of the study are to determine the incidence of oral mucositis, the stage of the condition, risk factors, and other oral complications in patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy and to evaluate the factors that have an impact on these. Methods: The study included 147 patients undergoing outpatient cancer chemotherapy at the Chemotherapy Unit of a University Hospital between February and April 2015. We used a questionnaire and the World Health Organization "Mucositis Grading Scale". Chi‐squared tests were used to determine the relationships between factors, and multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to explore predictive factors. Results: The frequency of oral mucositis was 51.7%. The most common oral problems were mouth dryness (55.1%), a reduced/changed sense of taste (52.4%), and a lack of appetite (47.6%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for oral mucositis were advanced age, a lack of appetite, and the duration of chemotherapy. Conclusions: As a result, half of all patients undergoing outpatient cancer chemotherapy developed oral mucositis. Patients are unable to adequately prevent oral mucositis and carry out oral care. It is recommended that more studies be conducted in outpatient units to evaluate predictive factors for oral mucositis. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Oral mucositis is an important complication that develops in patients receiving chemotherapy.Mucositis is a painful lesion and afflicts feeding, quality of life, and treatment process of the patient.The applications of basic oral care to patients receiving chemotherapy have an impact on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis and contribute to prevent bacterial colonization in the context of mucositis. What this paper adds? Oral mucositis affects outpatients receiving chemotherapy as much as it does inpatients.Advanced age, lack of appetite, duration of chemotherapy, and the presence of oral complications are effective factors in the development of oral mucositis.Patients are unable to adequately prevent oral mucositis and carry out oral care. The implications of this paper: Patients who will be receiving outpatient chemotherapy should undergo an oral examination before, during, and after their therapy and should under all circumstances receive education.The relationship between oral mucositis and the form, dose, and duration of the drugs used in chemotherapy should be taken into consideration in the case of individuals undergoing outpatient chemotherapy.Mucositis prevention and treatment should not be underestimated in patients treated in the outpatient setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To characterise the effects of local heat application on the ease of subsequent intravenous catheter insertion. Background Intravenous catheter insertion is a challenging procedure for both nurses and chemotherapy patients. The local application of heat to the area before intravenous catheter insertion may decrease these difficulties by increasing venous distension and visibility. Design This study was an open label experimental study involving intervention and control groups. Methods Patients receiving chemotherapy were divided into intervention ( n = 40) and control ( n = 40) groups. For patients in the intervention group, a digital moist heating pad was applied to the arm prepared for catheter insertion for 10 minutes in addition to routine care. No additional preparation procedure beyond routine care was performed for control patients. Data were collected using a data collection form and evaluated using chi square, Fisher's exact chi square, Student's t, Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon and Pearson correlation tests. Results Local application of heat decreased patients' pain ( p = 0·011), increased the rate of successful catheter placement at first attempt ( p = 0·004), decreased the catheterisation procedure time ( p = 0·001) and decreased nurse-perceived difficulty during catheter placement ( p = 0·001). Conclusions Local application of heat before the catheterisation procedure is suggested for patients receiving chemotherapy, particularly in cases where visibility of the veins is poor and intravenous catheter insertion is difficult. Relevance to clinical practice Local application of heat results in vasodilation, and thus intravenous catheter insertion becomes easier. Our findings have important implications for nurses who care for chemotherapy patients. The inclusion of local heat application before catheterisation as a preparation step is suitable to be implemented by nurses in other hospitals and clinics where chemotherapy is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To reveal the effects of music therapy and visual imagery on chemotherapy-induced anxiety and nausea-vomiting. Background Behavioural techniques such as music therapy and visual imagery are becoming increasingly important in dealing with chemotherapy-induced anxiety, nausea and vomiting. Design The study is an experimental and cross-sectional one and performed on a single sample group with the pre-post-test design consisting of 40 individuals. The individuals in the sample group comprised both the control and the case group of the study. Methods To obtain the study data, the following forms were used: the Personal Information Form, Spielberger State- Trait Anxiety Inventory, The Visual Analogue Scale and Individual Evaluation Form for Nausea and Vomiting adapted from The Morrow Assessment of Nausea and Vomiting. Results In the study, the participants' state and trait anxiety levels decreased significantly ( p < 0·05). Music therapy and visual imagery reduced the severity and duration of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting significantly ( p < 0·05). In our research, 40% of the patients did not have anticipatory nausea and 55% of the patients did not have anticipatory vomiting during the third chemotherapy cycle during which music therapy and guided visual imagery were implemented. Conclusions It was determined that complementary approaches comprising music therapy and visual imagery had positive effects on chemotherapy-induced anxiety, nausea and vomiting, which are suffered too often and affect the patients' whole lives adversely. Relevance to clinical practice This study is worthy of interest as it has revealed that music therapy and visual imagery which have been proven to be effective in many health problems in different areas are also important, and practical complementary approaches that are effective in getting chemotherapy-induced anxiety, nausea and vomiting under control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]