Intervention efficacy of holding ice cream in the mouth for radioactive oral mucositis prevention and treatment

Objective To explore the effect of oral ice cream holding for prevention and treatment of radioactive oral mucositis .Methods Sixty patients with oral and maxillofacial carcinoma were included and divided into control group and intervention group through a random number table , with 30 cases in each group . Patients in the control group accepted routine oral care after radiotherapy daily .Besides that , patients in intervention group hold the ice cream in the mouth 30 min before and after radiotherapy daily .The occurrence of radioactive oral mucositis was recorded .Results From 0 to IV degree, oral mucositis occurred in twelve , eight, four, four, two cases respectively in control group;but that in the control group was nineteen ,five,three,two, one cases respectively .There were three cases in the control group eventually who stopped radiotherapy for oral mucositis, only one case to stop radiotherapy in the intervention group .The difference of the rate of radioactive oral mucositis between the two groups was statistically significant （H=14.1, P=0.00）.The average time of the first appearance of oral mucositis in each degree in the intervention group were shorten than those of the control group, which showed statistically significant differences （ t =6.7, 3.8, 11.2, 33.1, 19.3, respectively;P<0.05）.Conclusions Holding ice cream in the mouth after radiotherapy is an effective way to prevent and treat oral mucositis , and it is a simple , practicable , and acceptable way for patients . Key words: Oral ice cream holding; Maxillofacial carcinoma; Radioactive oral mucositis