Physical exercise prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A feasibility study.

Purpose: This study explores the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an exercise program in people scheduled for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: In this controlled clinical trial, we compare pre-transplantation exercise to no exercise in the waiting period for an allogeneic of autologous HSCT. The supervised individually tailored exercise program (4-6 weeks) consisted of aerobic endurance, muscle strength, and relaxation exercises, administered twice a week in the period prior to HSCT.

Basic oral care for hematology-oncology patients and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: a position paper from the joint task force of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) and the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT).

Purpose: Hematology-oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients are at risk for oral complications which may cause significant morbidity and a potential risk of mortality. This emphasizes the importance of basic oral care prior to, during and following chemotherapy/HSCT. While scientific evidence is available to support some of the clinical practices used to manage the oral complications, expert opinion is needed to shape the current optimal protocols.

Oral complaints and dental care of haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: a qualitative survey of patients and their dentists.

Purpose: Little is known about the understanding of the oral and dental needs of haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients or about dentists' views and experiences regarding this patient group. This information is essential if we want to improve the standard of peri-HSCT dental care. The primary objective of this qualitative survey was to explore the following: (1) The understanding of dental care pre- and post-HSCT (2) The subjective oral complaints of HSCT patients both short- and long-term (3) The relationship of these oral complaints to the severity of oral mucositis during hospitalization The secondary objective was to explore the opinions of dentists regarding dental care before and after HSCT.

Physical exercise for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.

Background: The treatment-related burden for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may be relieved by physical exercises.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to summarize and analyze the evidence provided by randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on physical exercise interventions among patients with cancer undergoing HSCT.

Data Sources: PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and PEDro were searched for relevant RCTs up to October 1, 2011.

Continuous non-invasive monitoring of the skin temperature of HSCT recipients.

Goals Of Work: Empirical antibiotic therapy usually started in patients who are neutropenic following treatment with cytostatic chemotherapy for a haematological malignancy as soon as fever develops to forestall fulminant sepsis. Hence, accurate and timely detection of fever is crucial to the successful management of infectious complications in these patients. We report an investigation of the feasibility and validity of continuous non-invasive body temperature measurement.

Providing oral care in haematological oncology patients: nurses' knowledge and skills.

In the international literature, the most commonly recommended intervention for managing oral mucositis is good oral care, assuming that nurses have sufficient knowledge and skills to perform oral care correctly. The aim of the present study was to investigate if knowledge and skills about oral care improve when education in oral care is provided to nurses in charge of patients who are at risk of oral mucositis. This intervention study consists of a baseline test on the knowledge and skills of nurses of the haematology wards of two different hospitals.

Guidelines for the assessment of oral mucositis in adult chemotherapy, radiotherapy and haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a serious consequence of some chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimens. A number of reliable instruments are available to assess OM, but none are universally accepted. A unique collaboration of multi-disciplinary experts from Europe was formed to make recommendations on OM assessment, based on a systematic literature review and the experts' experience.

Management of oral mucositis at European transplantation centres.

Oral mucositis (OM), which occurs in many patients with hematologic malignancies treated with high-dose therapy and stem cell transplantation, is associated with substantial clinical, economic, and quality-of-life (QOL) consequences. It has been associated with an increased need for total parenteral nutrition and opioid analgesics, prolonged hospital stays, and increased risk of infection. The research subgroup of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Nurses Group surveyed nurses at transplantation centres for their thoughts about the clinical, QOL, and economic consequences of OM; tools for assessing OM; strategies for preventing and treating OM; and the need for the development and implementation of treatment guidelines.