The clinical effectiveness of Gelclair in the management of oral mucositis. (2009). Australian Nursing Journal, 16(9), 30-33.

To evaluate the effect of Gelclair on pain scores in patients with head and neck cancer with oral mucositis receiving radiotherapy.

During radiotherapy treatment a care plan for management of oral mucosa was commenced after each patient's first treatment. During the study, Gelclair was offered to patients whose pain scores exceeded 5/10. Gelclair was given three times per day, one hour before food, rinsed around the mouth for 1 minute.

The study was comprised of 33 patients age 18 to 81 years.

Key Disease Characteristics: Confirmed diagnosis of oral mucositis while receiving radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Site: Single site

Location: Perth Radiation Oncology at Royal Perth Hospital, Feb 2008 to Sep 2008

Phase of Care: Active treatment

Clinical Applications: Elderly care; end of life and palliative care

Case study

Data was collected from patient records and interviews conducted by registered nurses.

Prior to Gelclair treatment, 88% of patients were graded a pain score of 7 or above, which is classified as severe pain; following treatment with Gelclair, 85% of patients reported an improvement in their pain scores. Prior to Gelclair, tx average PS ws 8.33, and post tx PS average was 3.52.

There is potential diminishing of pain with daily use of Gelclair, but further randomized studies are needed to further assess the potential benefit this product can have on oral mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy and or radiotherapy.

No appropriate control group

Decreasing the pain from OM with Gelclair could potentially decrease the need for analgesics and decrease the need for hospitalization.