J Korean Acad Nurs JKAN Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2005-3673 Korean Society of Nursing Science 10.4040/jkan.2010.40.4.473 Original Article Effects of Oral Care with Essential Oil on Improvement in Oral Health Status of Hospice Patients Kang Hee-Young 1 Na Song-Sook 2 Kim Yun-Kyung 3 Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Chosun University, Ulsan, Korea. Full-time Lecturer, Christian College of Nursing, Ulsan, Korea. Full-time Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Choonhae College of Health Sciences, Ulsan, Korea. Address reprint requests to: Kim, Yun-Kyung. Department of Nursing, Choonhae College of Health Sciences, San 72-10 Gokcheon-ri, Ungchon-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan 689-784, Korea. Tel: 82-52-270-0195, Fax: 82-52-270-0189, dove4678@hanmail.net 08 2010 31 08 2010 40 4 473 481 03 03 2010 09 08 2010 Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Nursing Science 2010 Purpose

This study was done to examine the effects of oral care with essential oil in improving the oral health status of hospice patients with terminal cancer.

 Methods

The participants were 43 patients with terminal cancer admitted to K hospital in G city, Korea. Twenty-two patients were assigned to the experimental group and 21 to the control group. Participants in the experimental group received special mouth care with essential oil (application of essential oil mixture consisting of geranium, lavender, tea tree, and peppermint). The control group received special mouth care with 0.9% saline. The special mouth care was performed twice daily for one week in both groups. The scores for subjective oral comfortness, objective oral state, and numbers of colonizing Candida albicans were measured before and after the treatment.

 Results

The score for subjective oral comfortness and objective oral state were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. The numbers of colonizing Candida albicans significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group.

 Conclusion

Oral care with essential oil could be an effective oral health nursing intervention for hospice patients with terminal cancer.

 Essential oil Oral health Hospice

This study was supported by research funds from Chosun University, 2009.

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Research design.

Changes of numbers of colonizing Candida albicans of the experimental group (Sample 8).

Homogeneity Test for General and Disease related Characteristics of Participants (N=43)

*Fisher's exact test.

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Homogeneity Test for Outcome Variables at Baseline (N=43)

Exp.=experimental group; Cont.=control group.

Changes of Outcome Variables between the Experimental and Control Group (N=43)

Exp.=experimental group (n=22); Cont.=control group (n=21).