The effects of oral health education on patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer in terms of their oral health behaviors, cognition, awareness, and long-term oral hygiene

Backeground: The incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC), encompassing malignancies of the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, and salivary glands, has shown an annual increase and affects younger populations. Radiotherapy is a commonly employed treatment modality for HNC. However, radiotherapy can induce severe oral complications, such as radiocaries, radiomandibular osteomyelitis, and radiomandibular necrosis. Therefore, oral pretreatment prior to radiotherapy is critically crucial. This cross-sectional study, conducted in Guangzhou, China, assessed the impact of oral health education on post-radiotherapy oral hygiene status, alongside the oral health behaviors, awareness, and cognition of individuals requiring head and neck irradiation. Methods: A cohort of 63 HNC patients requiring radiotherapy was recruited from Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between September 2022 and February 2024. All participants subsequently received implementation of a standardized oral health framework targeting behaviors, cognition, and awareness. Questionnaire responses assessing these oral health domains underwent comparative analysis immediately prior to intervention initiation and six weeks post-implementation. Comparative evaluation of oral health behaviors and oral hygiene status then occurred between recipients and non-recipients of the structured promotion framework at twelve months following completion of radiotherapy. This phase incorporated data from 43 HNC patients who received radiation therapy between September 2021 and February 2024. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS software version 25. Results: Following a six-week health education intervention, participants demonstrated significant increases in oral health awareness scores and attitudes compared to pre-intervention levels. At the twelve-month post-radiotherapy assessment, patients with HNC who received the oral health behavior-awareness-cognition intervention exhibited improved oral health status and more positive oral health behaviors relative to counterparts without such an intervention. Conclusion: Implementation of oral health education significantly enhances oral health behaviors, cognition, and awareness. As a result, these patients exhibit improved post-treatment oral health status. OHBCA has clinical value and potential for wide application.