Effect of Cold Honey with Normal Saline Solution and on Oral Mucositis in Patients Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiation or Concerrent Radiation and Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Oral mucositis is a common problem in patients with head and neck cancer who have received radiation therapy or combined radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Objective: To examine the effect of cold honey with normal saline solution on oral mucositis among head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation or radiation combine with chemotherapy. Method: This was an experimental research conducted using a controlled trial design. The experimental group consisted of head and neck cancer patients who gargle with cold honey and saline solution. The control group comprised head and neck cancer patients who gargle with saline solution only. The sample size for each group was 42 individuals. Research tools used included general data recording forms, symptom assessment forms, severity assessment, and duration of oral mucositis. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Result: The occurrence of oral mucositis symptoms in the experimental group was 81.0%, whereas it was 100% in the control group (p = .005). The severity of oral mucositis symptoms differed significantly between the experimental and control groups (p < .001). The duration of occurrence of oral mucositis symptoms was longer in the experimental group compared to the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (p = .022). Conclusion: The combined use of cold honey and saline solution for mouth rinsing helped prevent and reduce the occurrence of oral cavity ulcers. This approach can be applied to head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemoradiotherapy to reduce the incidence of oral mucositis.