Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European Journal of Oncology Nursing, cilt.79, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus)
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral cryotherapy on chemotherapy-induced taste alteration, appetite, nutritional risk, and quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 65 patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy. Participants were assigned to an intervention group (oral cryotherapy plus standard care) or a control group (standard care only). Data were collected using validated tools, including the Chemotherapy-Induced Taste Alteration Scale (CITAS), the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: Compared with the control group, patients receiving oral cryotherapy reported significantly lower levels of taste alteration and discomfort, alongside higher appetite and overall quality of life scores (p < 0.05). Nutritional markers such as albumin and total protein remained stable in the intervention group, while they declined in controls. These results suggest that oral cryotherapy may both alleviate taste-related symptoms and help maintain nutritional status during chemotherapy. Conclusion: Oral cryotherapy was found to be an effective method for reducing the severity of chemotherapy-induced taste alterations and improving appetite and overall quality of life. Adherence to the protocol was high (%94), though the regimen is intensive and may challenge feasibility in routine practice. These findings highlight the potential of oral cryotherapy as a supportive care strategy, warranting confirmation in larger, multi-center studies.