Oral health knowledge, status and adherence post radiotherapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients’ oral health knowledge, oral health status and adherence to advice post radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (Prospective study)
IRAS ID
216517
Contact name
Mary Burke
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 16 days
Research summary
This prospective observational study aims to assess patients’ oral health knowledge, adherence with oral health behaviours and oral health status post treatment with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HANC) patients. After 5 months post treatment with radiotherapy, (part 1) of study will start. In part 1, patients’ knowledge and adherence with oral health behaviour will be assessed using a self-administered questionnaire (approximately 10 minutes to complete). Furthermore, a dental clinical examination, which is part of standard care at the recall appointment, will record patients’ oral health status and self-report of any symptoms. The specific areas recorded will be: presence of tooth decay, presence of dry mouth, presence of taste alteration, mouth opening, and presence of delayed healing after tooth extraction. During the clinical encounter patients will be offered the opportunity to self-report oral symptoms not covered in the questionnaire and clinical examination. Then, part 2 of study will take place one month after part 1. That is, with patients' permission and using their stated preferred mode of contact (email, text, phone, letter), patients will be asked to respond to four questions: 1) Have you registered or do you intend to register with a general dental practitioner. 2) Do you use the prescribed high fluoride toothpaste ( Colgate, Duraphat®5000) regularly. 3) How often do you use high fluoride containing toothpaste (Duraphat®5000): more than twice a day/twice daily/weekly/monthly/hardly ever/never. 4) If hardly ever or never, please would you indicate: are there specific problem with the toothpaste?
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0544
Date of REC Opinion
6 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion