The effects of early oral exercise on trismus and quality of life among oral cancer patient after surgery

• Main Authors: Pei-Chen Huang, 黃珮蓁
• Other Authors: Yu-Hua Lin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/88230678247173307765

碩士 === 義守大學 === 護理學系 === 105 === Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early oral exercise on the improvement of oral opening and quality of life in oral cancer patients of post-surgery. Method: This study was based on two groups of experimental design. Patients with oral cancer who underwent oral surgery for the first time were randomly divided into experimental group (n=45) and control group (n=45) Participants were randomized in two group, one is receiving early open-month training (experimental group, n=45), and the others is receiving reqular care (control group, n=45), there is no extra intervention care in control group. The experimental group participants keep simple oral exercise form 7th-10th day after surgery, and continue every day for a month. Mouth open size were measured and followed up with the patients before surgery (T0), first week (T1), and a month (T2) after discharge. Result: The MMO improvement of the experimental group were 0.32cm (± 0.39cm), was statistically significantly different (Z = -4.56, p <0.05). The MMO improvement of the control group were 0.07cm (±0.19cm), showing statistically significant difference (Z = -3.88, p <0.05). The experimental group also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in swallowing (Z = -2.63, p <0.05), Health-related quality of life(QOL)compared to month before had cancer (Z = -3.56, p <0.05),Health-related QOL during the past 7 days （Z＝-0.50，p＜0.05） and Overall QOL during the past 7 days(Z = -5.12, p <0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed that intervention of early open-month training helps to improve trismus issue in oral cancer patients. There was statistically significant difference in the improvement of mean mouth opening ,swallowing function , Health-related QOL and Overall QOL . Health care providers should initiate the open-mouth training after oral surgery earlier, and consider it in patients’ care plans as a part of continuous following up to improve caring quality.