Table 2 Summary of included studies

Nakajima /2017

Characteristics of Oral Problems and Effects of Oral Care in Terminally Ill Patients With Cancer

To investigate oral problems in terminal stage of cancer and improvement of dry mouth by oral care.

Japan

Terminally-ill cancer patients

Quantitative descriptive

1. Dry mouth

2. Stomatitis

3. Candidiasis

Fischer et al./2014

Oral health conditions affect functional and social activities of terminally ill cancer patients

To characterize oral conditions in terminally ill cancer patients to determine the presence, severity, and the functional and social impact of these oral conditions.

United States of America

Terminally-ill cancer patients

Quantitative descriptive

Using standardized oral examination:

1. Salivary hypofunction

2. Mucosal erythema

3. Ulceration

4. Fungal infection

Using Oral Problem Scale (OPS):

1. Xerostomia

2. Orofacial pain

3. Taste change

Amodio et al./2014

Oral health after breast cancer treatment in postmenopausal women

To characterize oral health in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.

Brazil

Post-menopausal breast cancer survivors

Quantitative descriptive

1. Chronic periodontal disease

Qutob et al. /2013

Implementation of a hospital oral care protocol and recording of oral mucositis in children receiving cancer treatment

To implement a standardized hospital oral care protocol and record the incidence of oral mucositis for inpatients with childhood cancer.

Australia

Pediatric patients with cancer

Quantitative descriptive

1. Mucositis

Velten et al./2017

Prevalence of oral manifestations in children and adolescents with cancer submitted to chemotherapy

To evaluate changes in oral lesions during follow-up of children and adolescents in chemotherapy

Brazil

Children and adolescents with cancer

Quantitative descriptive

1. Mucositis

2. Xerostomia

3. Cold sores

4. Candidiasis

Ezenwa et al./2016

Caregivers’ perspectives on oral health problems of end-of-life cancer patients

To determine caregivers’ perspectives on oral health problems in cancer patients at the end of life and explore factors that contribute to those perspectives.

United States of America

Advanced cancer patients

Quantitative descriptive

1. Xerostomia

2. Orofacial pain

3. Taste change

Mercadante et al./2015

Prevalence of oral mucositis, dry mouth, and dysphagia in advanced cancer patients.

To determine the prevalence and the characteristics of oral symptoms in a large population of advanced cancer patients.

Argentina

Advanced cancer patients

Quantitative descriptive

1. Mucositis

2. Dry mouth

3. Dysphagia

Matsuo et al./2016

Associations between oral complications and days to death in palliative care patients

To investigate the associations between the incidence of oral problems and the days to death (DTD) in patients receiving palliative care.

Japan

Patients receiving palliative care

Quantitative descriptive

1. Dental caries

2. Gingival inflammation

3. Tongue coating

4. Candidiasis

5. Tongue inflammation

6. Dry mouth

7. Bleeding spots

Kvalheim et al./2016

End-of-life palliative oral care in Norwegian health institutions. An exploratory study.

To explore circumstances surrounding procedures and knowledge regarding oral care for terminal patients in Norwegian healthcare institutions.

Norway

Nurses for end-of-life patients

Quantitative descriptive

1. Dry mouth

2. Plaque

3. Food particles and fungus Infections

4. Sores and scab

5. Viscous ropy saliva and chapped lips

6. Reduced appetite and pain

7. Dysphagia

8. Halitosis

9. Coughing and problems using dentures

Bogaardt et al./2015

Swallowing problems at the end of the palliative phase: incidence and severity in 164 unsedated patients.

To establish the incidence of swallowing problems and related problems in the dying phase

Netherlands

Dying patients

Quantitative descriptive

1. Swallowing problems

2. Frequent coughing

3. Problems with oral secretions

Meidell et al./ 2009

Acupuncture as an optional treatment for hospice patients with xerostomia: an intervention study

To investigate the feasibility of conducting a 5-week acupuncture intervention in a hospice, and the effect of acupuncture on xerostomia, dysphagia and dysarthria in patients with terminal cancer.

Sweden

End-of-life patients

Quantitative comparative

1. Xerostomia

2. Dysphagia

3. Dysarthria

Lagman et al./2017

Single-Dose Fluconazole Therapy for Oral Thrush in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Patients.

To assess the efficacy of a single-dose fluconazole 150 mg for oral thrush.

United States of America

Palliative and hospice patients with advanced cancer and have a clinical diagnosis of oral thrush

Quantitative descriptive

1. Oral thrush

Momo et al., 2017

Assessment of indomethacin oral spray for the treatment of oropharyngeal mucositis-induced pain during anticancer therapy

To assess the efficacy and safety of indomethacin (IM) oral spray (OS) as a pain control therapy for oropharyngeal mucositis due to anticancer chemo- and radiotherapy

Japan

Patients with head and neck carcinomas and haematological tumours

Quantitative comparative

1. Mucositis

Ling & Larsson/ 2011

Individualized pharmacological treatment of oral mucositis pain in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy

To assess the effect of pharmacological treatment in head and neck cancer patients with OM-induced pain and swallowing difficulties.

Sweden

Patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Quantitative descriptive

1. Mucositis

2. Pain

3. Swallowing difficulties

Gligorov et al./2011

Prevalence and treatment management of oropharyngeal candidiasis in cancer patients: results of the French CANDIDOSCOPE study.

To evaluate the prevalence of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

France

Cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy

Quantitative descriptive

1. Oropharyngeal candidiasis

2. Mucositis

3. Xerostomia

4. Taste changes

5. Pain

Davies et al./2006

Oral candidosis in patients with advanced cancer

To determine the epidemiology, aetiology, clinical features and microbiological aspects of oral candidosis in a cohort of cancer patients receiving specialist palliative care.

United Kingdom

Cancer patients receiving specialist palliative care.

Quantitative descriptive

1. Oral yeast carriage

2. Oral candidiasis

3. Xerostomia

Wilberg et al./2012

Oral health is an important issue in end-of-life cancer care.

To assess the prevalence of oral morbidity in patients receiving palliative care for cancers outside the head and neck region and to investigate if information concerning oral problems was given.

Norway

Cancers patients outside the head and neck region

Qualitative interview

1. Xerostomia

2. Mucosal friction

3. General oral discomfort

4. Taste changes

5. Candidiasis

Rydholm & Strang/2002

Physical and psychosocial impact of xerostomia in palliative cancer care: a qualitative interview study

To explore the global effects of xerostomia, with a specific focus on psychological and social consequences.

Sweden

Patients with advanced malignancies and symptomatic xerostomia

Qualitative interview

1. Subjective discomfort

2. Dryness or burning sensation

3. Loss of function e.g. articulation or swallowing

4. Increased infection (oral thrush and ulcerations)

Rohr et al./2010

Oral discomfort in palliative care: results of an exploratory study of the experiences of terminally ill patients.

To examine oral discomfort from the perspective of terminally ill patients.

Australia

Terminally-ill patients

Qualitative interview

1. Xerostomia

2. Bouts of ulceration and infection