Cheng, K.K., Chang, A.M., & Yuen, M.P. (2004). Prevention of oral mucositis in pediatric patients treated with chemotherapy: A randomized crossover trial comparing two protocols of oral care. European Journal of Cancer, 40, 1208–1216.
To compare two oral care protocols with children receiving chemotherapy using either benzydamine or chlorhexidine oral rinses
Patients used each mouthwash for three weeks and then crossed over. Patients also used a standard mouthcare protocol consisting of toothbrushing using the Bass method and mouth rinsing with either of the allocated rinses in the early morning and at bedtime, normal saline rinsing within 30 minutes of meals, and normal saline rinsing every 4 hours in the first and third week and every 2 hours in the second week after chemotherapy. Patients were instructed in using a ballooning and sucking motion of the cheeks for 30 seconds without swallowing. Researchers provided reinforcement practice sessions every week and a cartoon reminder.
The study was conducted from April 2000 to April 2001.
This was a prospective randomized, non-blinded, two-period crossover study with continual sequential analysis.
This study did not demonstrate the superiority of the oral rinses over oral care.