Evidence summary on managing radiotherapy-induced digestive symptoms in patients with head and neck cancer

Objective This study aims to synthesize the evidence and appraise available evidence on the management of radiotherapy-induced digestive symptoms in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients to support clinical assessment and intervention. Methods Evidence was retrieved from evidence-based resources and databases following the “6S” model. The literature quality assessment followed the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) for guidelines, AMSTAR-2 for systematic reviews, and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Evidence-Based Health Care Center’s quality evaluation tool for expert opinions and expert consensus articles. Quality evaluation, evidence extraction and summary were performed by two main researchers, combined with the advice from a senior nursing expert specialized in oncology care. Results A total of 21 pieces of literature were included, consisting of 6 guidelines, 6 expert consensuses, and 9 systematic reviews. Key evidence (n=37) was synthesized across six domains: oral mucositis, xerostomia, dysgeusia, nutritional management, dysphagia, nausea and vomiting. Conclusions This evidence summary summarizes evidence-based strategies for managing digestive symptoms in HNC patients undergoing radiotherapy, providing clinicians and nurses with a reference for assessment and intervention. Implementation should be adapted to specific clinical contexts, patient preferences, and professional expertise to enhance utility in a real-world setting. Registration This study has been registered on the Fudan University Center for Evidence-based Nursing (registration No. ES20246039).