A Study to Assess Effectiveness of Topical Application of Pure Honey on Radiation Induced Mucositis in Patient Receiving Radiation Therapy at Selected Hospitals of Amritsar

Abstract

Cancer refers to a condition of malignant neoplasia, involving unregulated cell growth. It is usually treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Chances of survival with the disease vary greatly by the type and location of cancer and the extent of the disease at the start of treatment. Most patients develop the most troublesome and debilitating side effects of radiotherapy. Studies have shown that 80% of patients receiving radiation therapy develop oral mucositis. For reducing these complications complementary therapies can be used. Topical application of honey can help to reduce the severity and pain of mucositis. A study to assess the effectiveness of topical application of pure honey on radiation induced mucositis in patients receiving radiation therapy at selected hospitals of Amritsar was done to evaluate the effectiveness of an interventional strategy on oral mucositis among patients receiving radiation therapy. The research design adopted for this study was quasi experimental with one experimental and control group; samples size was 100 patients receiving radiation therapy, selected purposively. A modified WHO oral mucositis assessment scale was selected for the study. The result of the study have shown that the overall pre test means found to be 3.36 with SD 0.741 as compared to overall post test mean 1.68 noticed as with SD 0.646 in experimental group. In control group, overall pre test mean found to be 2.66 with SD 0.621 as compared to overall post test mean noticed as 2.72 with SD 0.654. Thus it is inferred that honey applications has a significant effect in reducing oral mucositis among patients receiving radiation therapy.


Keywords: Oral mucositis, radiation therapy, honey