Side effects of chemotherapy in children with cancer: effects of nursing training administered to caregivers

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the consequences of providing nursing training to caregivers of children with cancer on the side effects associated with chemotherapy.

Design: The present study used a pre-test-post-test experimental design.

Setting: The study was conducted in a paediatric hematological oncology hospital in Ankara, Turkey.

Subjects: This study was conducted with 40 caregivers responsible for looking after child patients, all of which had been recently diagnosed with cancer, but who had not started chemotherapy.

Primary argument: The knowledge scores of the caregivers on issues related to infection and bleeding risk, nutrition and oral care and total scores were significantly higher than their pre-test scores before undergoing training (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Planned training on the problems that may arise due to the side effects of chemotherapy was found to be effective in increasing the knowledge level of caregivers. The authors suggest that training in this subject should be provided before initiating a chemotherapy program, before the occurrence of side effects, and visual and written materials should be used.