RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adherence of patients with head and neck cancer who underwent radiotherapy or radio-chemotherapy combined to the preventive laser photobiomodulation protocol in a public health service. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, whose population sample included patients with malignant head and neck neoplasms. Thirty head and neck cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment, were examined and interviewed through a record of signs and symptoms of oral mucositis (OM) and adherence to the preventive laser photobiomodulation protocol, that began in the first session of radiotherapy, and included the laser application three times a week during the 3-week period. The collected data were documented, and the descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: It was observed that 66.6% of patients developed OM. There was a predominance of degrees I and II, with 36.8% and 31.6%, respectively. A total of fifteen patients (50%) missed one or more laser photobiomodulation sessions. A positive association was found between patients who missed at least two laser photobiomodulation sessions with the development of OM degrees III (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was moderate adherence of patients with head and neck cancer to the laser photobiomodulation protocol and the development of more severe degrees of OM was related to individuals that didn't attend scheduled sessions.