Katranci, N., Ovayolu, N., Ovayolu, O., & Sevinc, A. (2012). Evaluation of the effect of cryotherapy in preventing oral mucositis associated with chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 16, 339–344.
To assess the effect of oral cryotherapy on development of oral mucositis associated with infusion of fluorouracil (5-FU) with leucovorin
Patients were randomized to cryotherapy or usual care. Prior to randomization, patients completed a study questionnaire, and 60 patients, who had similar characteristics, were selected for randomization. Ice chips were given to patients in the treatment group 5 minutes before and throughout treatment for a total of 30 minutes of continuous use. Mucositis assessment was done on days 7,14, and 21 after chemotherapy.
This was a single-site study conducted in an outpatient setting in Turkey.
Patients were undergoing the active antitumor treatment phase of care.
This was a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
The World Health Organization (WHO) mucositis grading scale was used to assess mucositis severity.
On days 7 and 14, more patients in the experimental group did not have mucositis (p < 0.05). On day 21, patients in the experimental group tended to have lower-grade or grade 0 mucositis, but the difference was not significant.
Findings demonstrated a short-term benefit of cryotherapy in patients receiving 5-FU.
Findings suggest that short-term cryotherapy may be beneficial for patients receiving bolus 5-FU; however, longer-term effectiveness may not be seen.