Question 1

All of the following are symptoms associated with oral candidiasis except:

Accepted Answer

Hypersalivation is not a symptom of oral candidiasis. Pain, bleeding, burning mouth, and inability to taste food are all examples of symptoms of oral candidiasis.

Question 2

Which of the following is the most common factor in preventing the onset of mucositis?

Accepted Answer

Keeping the patient's mouth clean and hydrated is key to preventing the onset of mucositis.

Question 3

Hospice is a place where patients go at the end-of-life. It exists to provide compassion, support, and care for persons in the last phases of terminal illness.

Accepted Answer

Hospice is not a place but a concept of care. However its main goal is to provide compassion, support, and care for persons in the last phases of terminal illness.

Question 4

Palliative care is a healthcare approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families who face problems associated with life-limiting illnesses. Palliative care aims to prevent and relieve suffering by early identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and other types of physical, psychologic, emotional and spiritual distresses.

Accepted Answer

Both statements regarding palliative care are True.

Question 5

A mouth free of discomfort and bad odors helps with all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Preventing further decline in overall health. The other choices are all examples of what can be maintained with a mouth free of discomfort and pain.

Question 6

Oral problems are not common among patients receiving palliative care, because most patients can perform oral hygiene on themselves regularly.

Accepted Answer

Oral problems are frequent in patients receiving palliative care, and many patients require assistance in performing oral hygiene care from their caregiver, family member, or nurse.

Question 7

Toothbrushing techniques differ depending on the patients' ability to swallow or spit. For those who have no difficulty swallowing or spitting, a small smear of fluoride toothpaste can be used.

Accepted Answer

Toothbrushing techniques do differ depending on the patients' ability to swallow or spit. However, a small smear of fluoride toothpaste should only be used with persons who have no difficulty swallowing or spitting.

Question 8

Palliative care is often initiated after a person receives a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. Palliative care is only delivered at home.

Accepted Answer

Palliative care is often initiated after a person receives a diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. However, it can be delivered in long-term and acute care settings, as well as the home.

Question 9

Which of the following types of oral candidiasis clinically presents as a cottage cheeselike mass that wipes off with red inflammation and bleeding underneath?

Accepted Answer

Pseudomembranous candidiasis is clinically present as a white cottage cheeselike mass that wipes off with red inflamed and bleeding tissue underneath.

Question 10

Which of the following represents the oral complication that appears as red edematous tissue with a yellow membrane covering the ulceration?

Accepted Answer

Mucositis often presents clinically as red, edematous tissue with a yellow membrane covering the ulcerations.

Question 11

Appliances with metal clasps need to be soaked in chlorhexidine solution, because sodium hypochlorite corrodes the metal clasps.

Accepted Answer

Chlorhexidine solution is used to clean dentures with metal clasps to avoid corrosion of the metal clasps. The sodium hypochlorite is not what causes corrosion.

Question 12

It is imperative that patients and their caregivers regularly treat dentures to avoid fungal infections because salivary Candida levels have been reported to be higher in denture wearers than dentate individuals.

Accepted Answer

Salivary Candida levels are typically higher in denture wearers. Therefore, it is important that patients and their caregivers regularly treat dentures to avoid fungal infections.

Question 13

Nystatin oral suspensions typically are used in patients with difficulty swallowing, because it must be expectorated.

Accepted Answer

Nystatin oral suspension is contraindicated in patients who have a difficulty swallowing, because it must be expectorated.

Question 14

Which oral complication is associated with a change in the consistency and volume of saliva?

Accepted Answer

Drug-induced xerostomia occurs from a change in the nature and quality of the saliva, as well as the overall flow rate, creating a change in the consistency and volume of saliva.

Question 15

What organism is a natural inhabitant of the oral cavity and responsible for most cases of candidiasis?

Accepted Answer

Candida albicans is a natural inhabitant of the oral cavity and responsible for the most cases of candidiasis.

Question 16

Examples of members of a palliative care team include all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

Dental hygienists are not an integrated member of the palliative care team. The other choices are all examples of members of the palliative care team.

Question 17

Topical corticosteroids must be used with caution in the treatment of mucositis, because they may increase the risk of aspiration pneumoni a.

Accepted Answer

Topical corticosteroids also may be used with caution to reduce discomfort, because they may decrease the gag reflex, increasing the risk of aspiration pneumonia, the leading cause of death in personal care homes.

Question 18

Mucositis commonly occurs among patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, because it increases the mitosis rate of cells in the oral tissue causing atrophy of the tissue.

Accepted Answer

Mucositis commonly occurs among patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation because it decreases the mitosis rate in the oral tissue.

Question 19

What is the term for the period of time during which an individual copes with declining health from a terminal illness or from the frailties associated with advanced age, even if death is not clearly imminent?

Accepted Answer

Hospice is not a place but a concept of care that exists to provide compassion, support, and care for persons in the last phases of terminal illness so that they might live as fully and comfortably as possible. Long-term care is a variety of services which help meet both the medical and nonmedical needs of people with a chronic illness or disability who cannot care for themselves for long periods of time. Acute care is short-term medical treatment, usually in a hospital, for patients having an acute illness or injury or recovering from surgery.

Question 20

Which risk factor(s) for the onset of xerostomia is most important?

Accepted Answer

Medications and drug therapies are the most common and most important risk factor in the onset of xerostomia. Anxiety, dehydration, and salivary gland disease are all risk factors, but of less importance.

Quiz 61: Palliative Oral Care