Background:
The aim of this review is to identify and summarise prehabilitation and rehabilitation guidelines in oral cancer (OC).
Methods:
Guidelines were retrieved via CINAHL, Medline, Embase and Google, and through email correspondence with the authors’ research network. Inclusion criteria were prehabilitation or rehabilitation guidelines for OC or, where these do not exist, head and neck cancer (HNC), written in English. The guidelines were reviewed for inclusion of assessment and intervention for the core areas of function impacted by OC and its treatment. Specification of key allied healthcare professionals (AHPs) in the rehabilitation multi-disciplinary team (MDT) was also collated.
Results:
AHP rehabilitation and prehabilitation guidelines for OC vary significantly, in terms of scope and detail, across the globe. Many countries have guidelines for HNC but not for OC specifically. Some countries which publish research in OC rehabilitation do not have guidelines in this area. There is a greater focus on assessment than on intervention.
Conclusion:
While for many AHPs generic HNC guidelines are sufficient to advise on clinical practice in OC, for certain disciplines more specific guidelines for prehabilitation and rehabilitation in OC are required, with greater emphasis on intervention. International collaboration should be considered where feasible.