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Open Access Review Issue
Management of Radiodermatitis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Scoping Review
Health Care Science 2026, 5(4): 364-375
Published: 21 May 2026
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Given the worldwide prevalence of head and neck cancer and the importance of scientifically based treatment, current studies are discussing innovative strategies for the treatment of radiodermatitis. This review adhered to the Joanna Briggs Institute's nine‐step methodological framework for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. We searched eight databases: Web of Science, Science Direct, Scientific Electronic Library Online, CAPES Catalog of Theses and Dissertations, Elsevier's Scopus, Wiley Online Library, PubMed Central, and Cochrane Library. Data collection occurred in March 2024. A final sample of 21 articles was selected. The research question was formulated using the “Population, Concept and Context” framework. This led to the specific question: “What are the strategies identified in the literature used in the management of radiodermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy?” The included studies were published between 2011 and 2024, with China being the leading producer of articles. Clinical trials were the predominant study design. Scales were frequently used to assess various aspects of radiodermatitis. The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria were commonly used. Several topical agents for preventing radiodermatitis were evaluated, including pharmacological therapies, phototherapy/photobiomodulation, and dressings. Numerous topical agents have been clinically tested for the treatment and prevention of radiodermatitis in patients with head and neck cancer. However, the current body of research is insufficient in both quantity and quality to conclusively support or refute the widespread approval of any specific product.

Open Access Original Article Issue
Implementation of an Improvement Cycle in the Compounding of Antineoplastic Therapy in a University Hospital
Health Care Science 2025, 4(2): 103-109
Published: 25 March 2025
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Background

Improving medication safety, particularly for high‐risk drugs, was identified as the third Global Patient Safety Challenge by the World Health Organization in 2017. Antineoplastic agents are included in the list of high‐risk medications because of their high potential to cause adverse events. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a project that was implemented to improve the antineoplastic therapy compounding process at a university hospital.

Methods

This study had a quasi‐experimental before‐and‐after design and used a quantitative approach to investigate the effects of implementation of this project in a centralized intravenous admixture service. The compounding of antineoplastic therapy was evaluated using five quality criteria at three time points: an initial evaluation and two post‐intervention re‐evaluations. The results of the intervention were subjected to statistical analysis and are presented in a Pareto chart.

Results

All five quality criteria for correct compounding of antineoplastic therapy improved after implementation of the intervention, with an increase in compliance values for all criteria after the second evaluation. Improvements in criteria 1, 3, and 4 were statistically significant.

Conclusions

The implementation of the improvement project enhanced the quality criteria and caused a cultural shift in the team, with an improved view towards quality management in work processes.

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