Oral Health CareOH-PALNCT07324525
Oral Health in Palliative Care: A Survey Study
An observational study of Oral Health Care and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, run by University Medical Center Goettingen at 1 site in Germany.
Trial summary
Oral health problems such as xerostomia or oral infections are common in palliative care patients and can significantly impair quality of life. Adequate dental care may contribute substantially to symptom control and well-being; however, oral health and dental services are often insufficiently integrated into… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Oral Health Care, Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Palliative Care
- How many people
- 158 participants
- Where
- 1 siteGermany
- Study dates
- 24 Feb 2026to 1 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: The study population includes adult, consent-capable patients receiving palliative care at the Palliative Care Department of University Medical Center Göttingen, as well as consent-capable members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine (DGP). Patients are under the care of the palliative team at the clinic, and DGP members represent healthcare professionals involved in palliative care across various disciplines in Germany.
Who may be able to join
- consent-capable patients receiving palliative care
- patients whose health status allows completion of a questionnaire
- consent-capable members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine
Who cannot join
- Participants under 18 years of age
- Individuals who are unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Oral Health and Dental Care in Palliative Medicine: A Survey Study Among Patients and Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine
Oral health problems such as xerostomia or oral infections are common in palliative care patients and can significantly impair quality of life. Adequate dental care may contribute substantially to symptom control and well-being; however, oral health and dental services are often insufficiently integrated into palliative care practice. In addition, little is known about the level of awareness, knowledge, and interprofessional collaboration regarding oral health among palliative care professionals.
This prospective, non-interventional survey study aims to assess the relevance of oral health in palliative care by surveying both palliative care patients and healthcare professionals who are members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine. The study investigates patients' oral health status, oral health-related quality of life, and access to dental care, as well as professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and current practices related to oral health and dental care in palliative settings. The findings are intended to identify existing gaps and inform strategies for improved integration of dental expertise into palliative care.
Read the detailed description
Oral complaints are highly prevalent among patients receiving palliative care and are frequently caused or exacerbated by systemic diseases, cancer therapies, and medication-related side effects. Conditions such as xerostomia, oral candidiasis, mucositis, and pain can substantially affect nutrition, communication, comfort, and overall quality of life. Despite this high burden, oral health and dental care are often not systematically addressed in palliative care, and dental professionals are rarely integrated into interdisciplinary care structures.
To date, there is limited evidence regarding how oral health is perceived by palliative care patients, how dental care is organized and accessed in palliative settings, and how well palliative care professionals are informed about common oral health problems and their management. Furthermore, barriers and facilitators of interprofessional collaboration between palliative care teams and dental professionals remain insufficiently explored.
This prospective, non-interventional survey study aims to evaluate the role of oral health in palliative care from both patient and professional perspectives. Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine (DGP) will be invited to participate in an anonymous online survey distributed via email and newsletter, with reminders sent after six and twelve weeks. The questionnaire for healthcare professionals assesses the relevance of oral health and dental care in daily clinical practice, knowledge of common oral conditions such as xerostomia and candidiasis, use of information sources and continuing education, and the integration of oral health topics into professional training and education.
Palliative care patients will be recruited through direct personal approach and will complete a pseudonymized paper-based questionnaire. Patient-reported outcomes include current oral health status, presence of oral complaints, access to dental care, and oral health-related quality of life measured using the German version of the Oral Health Impact Profile 14.
As this is a survey-based study, no clinical examinations or interventions are performed. Participation consists solely of completing the questionnaire once and is not part of routine clinical care. Eligible participants include adult, consent-capable palliative care patients whose health status allows questionnaire completion, as well as consent-capable DGP members. Individuals under 18 years of age or unable or unwilling to provide informed consent are excluded.
Data collection is conducted at the University Medical Center Göttingen. The results are expected to provide insights into current deficits, educational needs, and structural challenges and to support the development of strategies for better integration of oral health and dental care into palliative care services.
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patients in palliative care | Patients receiving palliative care at the Department of Palliative Medicine of University Medical Center Göttingen | |
| Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine | Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine, including healthcare professionals involved in palliative care across various disciplines |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The prevalence (%) of oral mucositis among patients receiving palliative care
Measured: At baseline (single cross-sectional assessment)
The percentage (%) of German Society for Palliative Medicine members reporting insufficient knowledge regarding dental care in palliative settings.
Measured: At baseline (single cross-sectional assessment)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Jan 2026
- Study start24 Feb 2026
- Primary completion1 Nov 2026
- Study completion1 Nov 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Oral Health CareStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Medical Center Goettingen
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Felix Marschner, University Medical Center Goettingen
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07324525
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 24/12/25
- Acronym
- OH-PAL
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Oral Health and Dental Care in Palliative Medicine: A Survey Study Among Patients and Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07324525
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- OH-PAL / 24/12/25
- Conditions
- Oral Health Care, Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, Palliative Care, Palliative Care, Patient Care
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University Medical Center GoettingenUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 24 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Nov 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Nov 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Oral health problems such as xerostomia or oral infections are common in palliative care patients and can significantly impair quality of life. Adequate dental care may contribute substantially to symptom control and well-being; however, oral health and dental services are often insufficiently integrated into palliative care practice. In addition, little is known about the level of awareness, knowledge, and interprofessional collaboration regarding oral health among palliative care professionals.
This prospective, non-interventional survey study aims to assess the relevance of oral health in palliative care by surveying both palliative care patients and healthcare professionals who are members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine. The study investigates patients' oral health status, oral health-related quality of life, and access to dental care, as well as professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and current practices related to oral health and dental care in palliative settings. The findings are intended to identify existing gaps and inform strategies for improved integration of dental expertise into palliative care.
Detailed description
Oral complaints are highly prevalent among patients receiving palliative care and are frequently caused or exacerbated by systemic diseases, cancer therapies, and medication-related side effects. Conditions such as xerostomia, oral candidiasis, mucositis, and pain can substantially affect nutrition, communication, comfort, and overall quality of life. Despite this high burden, oral health and dental care are often not systematically addressed in palliative care, and dental professionals are rarely integrated into interdisciplinary care structures.
To date, there is limited evidence regarding how oral health is perceived by palliative care patients, how dental care is organized and accessed in palliative settings, and how well palliative care professionals are informed about common oral health problems and their management. Furthermore, barriers and facilitators of interprofessional collaboration between palliative care teams and dental professionals remain insufficiently explored.
This prospective, non-interventional survey study aims to evaluate the role of oral health in palliative care from both patient and professional perspectives. Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine (DGP) will be invited to participate in an anonymous online survey distributed via email and newsletter, with reminders sent after six and twelve weeks. The questionnaire for healthcare professionals assesses the relevance of oral health and dental care in daily clinical practice, knowledge of common oral conditions such as xerostomia and candidiasis, use of information sources and continuing education, and the integration of oral health topics into professional training and education.
Palliative care patients will be recruited through direct personal approach and will complete a pseudonymized paper-based questionnaire. Patient-reported outcomes include current oral health status, presence of oral complaints, access to dental care, and oral health-related quality of life measured using the German version of the Oral Health Impact Profile 14.
As this is a survey-based study, no clinical examinations or interventions are performed. Participation consists solely of completing the questionnaire once and is not part of routine clinical care. Eligible participants include adult, consent-capable palliative care patients whose health status allows questionnaire completion, as well as consent-capable DGP members. Individuals under 18 years of age or unable or unwilling to provide informed consent are excluded.
Data collection is conducted at the University Medical Center Göttingen. The results are expected to provide insights into current deficits, educational needs, and structural challenges and to support the development of strategies for better integration of oral health and dental care into palliative care services.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patients in palliative care | – | –Patients receiving palliative care at the Department of Palliative Medicine of University Medical Center Göttingen |
| Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine | – | –Members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine, including healthcare professionals involved in palliative care across various disciplines |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- The study population includes adult, consent-capable patients receiving palliative care at the Palliative Care Department of University Medical Center Göttingen, as well as consent-capable members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine (DGP). Patients are under the care of the palliative team at the clinic, and DGP members represent healthcare professionals involved in palliative care across various disciplines in Germany.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- consent-capable patients receiving palliative care
- patients whose health status allows completion of a questionnaire
- consent-capable members of the German Society for Palliative Medicine
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Participants under 18 years of age
- Individuals who are unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
The prevalence (%) of oral mucositis among patients receiving palliative care
Time frame: At baseline (single cross-sectional assessment)
The percentage (%) of German Society for Palliative Medicine members reporting insufficient knowledge regarding dental care in palliative settings.
Time frame: At baseline (single cross-sectional assessment)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Oral Health Care and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, run by University Medical Center Goettingen at 1 site in Germany.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The prevalence (%) of oral mucositis among patients receiving palliative care (time frame: At baseline (single cross-sectional assessment)). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Nov 2026.