Effect of Interventional Protocol Using Clove Oil Versus Normal Saline Solution Upon the Degree of Oral Mucositis Among Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Patients undergoing chemotherapy will develop some degree of oral mucositis. It is appeared as erythema and burning sensation, and may develop to significantly painful ulcerative lesions, thus reducing the ability of patients to eat and speak, and negatively affecting patients’ quality of life. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the interventional protocol using clove oil compared with normal saline solution upon the degree of oral mucositis among patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Thirty patients undergoing chemotherapy they were diagnosed with oral mucositis were randomly assigned in this true experimental study. The study was conducted at Imam Al-Hussein Oncology Center and the oncology wards of Imam Al-Hassan Al-Mujtaba Teaching Hospital. The data were collected through the interviewing technique and then analyzed by using the program of SPSS Version 25, both descriptive and inferential statistical procedure were used to analyze the study results. Results: No significant differences at p-value of 0.623, 0.725, and 1.0 are observed before applying the intervention in the oral toxicity degree between clove oil and normal saline solution groups, clove oil and control groups, normal saline solution and the control groups respectively. While a significant statistical differences at p-value of 0.000 are detected after seven days of interventional protocol between clove oil and normal saline solution groups, clove oil and control group, normal saline solution and the control group in favor the clove oil group. Furthermore, a significant statistical difference at p-value of 0.011, 0.042, and 0.000 are reported after seven days of intervention in the levels of oral mucositis between clove oil group and normal saline solution group, clove oil group and control group, and normal saline solution group and control group respectively. Therefore, clove oil cures the oral mucositis much more than normal saline solution. Conclusions: The application of interventional protocol using clove oil is greatly enhances level of oral mucositis and reduces oral mucositis grade. There is a significant statistical difference between both clove oil group and normal saline solution group in favor the clove oil group. Recommendations: It is necessary to conduct further studies on larger sample size for determination of the efficacy of clove oil on the degree of oral mucositis.