Oral mucositis and quality of life in allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients

Purpose. Oral mucositis (OM) is a painful and potentially life-threatening sequela of bone marrow transplant (BMT) therapy. A patient-reported OM symptom scale (PROMS) was related to other measures of quality of life (QoL), while another scale for clinical assessment of OM using visual analogue scales (VAS-OMAS) based on a previously existing scale (OMAS) was also developed.; Methods. Thirty-four patients were recruited. All questionnaires were administered over routine periods. Patients completed the PROMS and QoL questionnaires, while clinicians completed the OMAS and VAS-OMAS; one clinician using OMAS, the other using VAS-OMAS.; Results. PROMS reliably measured patients' self-assessment of OM and it correlated well with QoL. The VAS-OMAS correlated well with the OMAS.; Conclusions. The PROMS may be used to measure patient-based experiences with OM. The VAS-OMAS may be used interchangeably with the OMAS to assess OM and due to its simplicity of use, might even be preferred.