Abstract:

Objective To explore the preventive effect of tongue body guidance combined with acupoint pressure on radiation-induced xerostomia（RIX） in patients with head and neck cancer（HNC），and to provide evidence-based support for clinical prophylaxis. Methods Using convenience sampling，86 HNC patients who received radiotherapy at the cancer center of a tertiary general hospital in Henan Province from February 2024 to November 2025 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group using a block randomization method，with 43 cases in each group. The experimental group received tongue body guidance combined with acupoint pressure in addition to routine care，with the preventive intervention period spanning from the initiation of radiotherapy to a month post-radiotherapy completion. The control group received routine care alone. Differences between the 2 groups in the severity of xerostomia，oral pain severity，and static/dynamic salivary flow rates were compared before radiotherapy，at the end of the 10th，20th，and 30th radiotherapy sessions，and a month after radiotherapy completion. Results All 86 patients completed the study. After the intervention，the degree of dry mouth and oral pain in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group. Except for the absence of a significant difference in static salivary flow rate between the 2 groups at the 30th time point of radiotherapy，the salivary flow rate in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group at all other time points. Generalized estimating equation analysis revealed significant main effects of time and group on the severity of xerostomia（Wald χ²_group=28.081，P<0.001；Wald χ²_time=771.767，P<0.001）. There were interaction effects between the 2 groups for oral pain degree，static salivary flow rate，and dynamic salivary flow rate（Wald χ²_interaction=59.024，P<0.001；Wald χ²_interaction=85.402，P<0.001；Wald χ²_interaction=76.529，P<0.001）. Conclusion Tongue body guidance combined with acupoint pressure can effectively prevent and delay the onset and progression of radiation-induced xerostomia，reduce pain，and maintain salivary flow rates in HNC patients. The intervention effect remains stable over time.

Key words: Tongue Body Guidance, Acupoint Pressure, Radiation-Induced Xerostomia, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Prevention, Traditional Chinese Medicine Nursing

摘要：

目的 探讨舌体导引联合腧穴按压对头颈癌患者放射性口腔干燥症的预防效果，以期为临床实践提供依据。 方法 采用便利抽样法，选取2024年2月至2025年11月于河南省某三级甲等综合医院肿瘤中心接受放射性治疗的头颈癌患者86例作为研究对象，采用区组随机化法将患者分为试验组和对照组，每组各43例。试验组在常规护理的基础上实施舌体导引联合腧穴按压，干预时长从放疗开始至放疗结束后1个月，对照组实施常规护理。比较两组放疗前，放疗第10、20、30次时，及放疗结束后1个月的口干程度、口腔疼痛程度及静态和动态唾液流率的差异。 结果 86例患者均完成研究。干预后，试验组口干及口腔疼痛程度均低于对照组，除放疗第30次时两组静态唾液流率差异无统计学意义外，其余时间点试验组唾液流率均高于对照组（P<0.05）。广义估计方程分析显示，两组口干程度存在时间效应与组间效应（Wald χ²_组间=28.081，P<0.001；Wald χ²_时间=771.767，P<0.001）；两组口腔疼痛程度及静态和动态唾液流率存在时间与组间的交互效应（Wald χ²_交互=59.024，P<0.001；Wald χ²_交互=85.402，P<0.001；Wald χ²_交互=76.529，P<0.001）。 结论 舌体导引联合腧穴按压可有效预防并延缓头颈癌患者放射性口腔干燥症的发生与进展，减轻疼痛、维持唾液流率，且干预效果随时间的延长持续稳定。

关键词: 舌体导引, 腧穴按压, 放射性口腔干燥症, 头颈癌, 预防, 中医护理学