Assessment of Knowledge on Side Effects Among Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy in Selected Hospitals of West Bengal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26463/rjns.15_1_11Keywords:
Knowledge, Cancer, Side effects, RadiotherapyAbstract
Background and Aim: Approximately 20 million new cases of cancer and 9.7 million cancer deaths will occur in 2022. Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed type of cancer. Radiotherapy is an integral part of cancer management and is associated with several adverse effects. Awareness of the general population is still poor in both developing and developed countries. Therefore, knowledge assessment of patients with cancer is necessary to understand the lack of knowledge regarding cancer.
Objectives: This descriptive study aimed to assess the knowledge of the side effects of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy in selected hospitals in West Bengal.
Method: A total of 171 samples were selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique, and a validated structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the study samples.
Results: The study results showed that the mean and SD of knowledge score were 11.3 and ±3.06, respectively; 25.1% of cancer patients had a poor level of knowledge, and the majority of the study sample had side effects such as nausea, fatigue, weight loss, and psychological changes. There was a significant association between the knowledge of cancer patients and sex, educational status, place of residence, family history of cancer, and duration of radiotherapy (P<0.001). This study has implications for nursing practice, education, administration, and research.
Conclusion: The majority of the patients had a poor level of knowledge. Further studies with larger participants and different populations are required to understand the knowledge and awareness.
References
1. Global Cancer Observatory. Available from: https:// www.uicc.org/news/globocan-2022-latest-globalcancer-data-shows-rising-incidence-and-starkinequities.
2. Sathishkumar K, Chaturvedi M, Das P, et al. Cancer incidence estimates for 2022 & projection for 2025: Result from National Cancer Registry Programme, India. Indian J Med Res 2022;156(4&5):598-607.
3. Delaney G, Jacob S, Featherstone C, et al. The role of radiotherapy in cancer treatment: estimating optimal utilization from a review of evidence-based clinical guidelines. Cancer 2005;104(6):1129-37.
4. Baskar R, Lee KA, Yeo R, et al. Cancer and radiation therapy: current advances and future directions. Int J Med Sci 2012;9(3):193-9.
5. Dörr W, Hamilton CS, Boyd T, et al. Radiationinduced changes in cellularity and proliferation in human oral mucosa. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2002;52(4):911-7.
6. Mehta P, Fahlbusch FB, Rades D, et al. Are hypothalamic- pituitary (HP) axis deficiencies after whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) of relevance for adult cancer patients? a systematic review of the literature. BMC Cancer 2019;19(1):1213.
7. Cayuela N, Jaramillo-Jiménez E, Càmara E, et al. Cognitive and brain structural changes in long-term oligodendroglial tumor survivors. Neuro Oncol 2019;21(11):1470-1479.
8. O'Brien PC. Radiation injury of the rectum. Radiother Oncol 2001;60(1):1-14.
9. Majeed H, Gupta V. Adverse Effects of Radiation Therapy. [Updated 2023 Aug 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563259/
10. Kawase E, Karasawa K, Shimotsu S, et al. Estimation of anxiety and depression in patients with early stage breast cancer before and after radiation therapy. Breast Cancer 2012;19(2): 147-52.
11. Turriziani A, Mattiucci GC, Montoro C, et al. Radiotherapy-related fatigue: incidence and predictive factors. Rays 2005;30(2):197-203.
12. Baharvand M, ShoalehSaadi N, Barakian R, et al. Taste alteration and impact on quality of life after head and neck radiotherapy. Journal of Oral Pathology & Medicine. 2012 Aug 3;42(1):106–12.
13. Manikantan K, Khode S, Sayed SI, et al. Dysphagia in head and neck cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2009;35(8):724-32.
14. Hutcheson KA, Nurgalieva Z, Zhao H, et al. Two-year prevalence of dysphagia and related outcomes in head and neck cancer survivors: An updated SEER-Medicare analysis. Head Neck 2019;41(2):479-487.
15. García-Peris P, Parón L, Velasco C, et al. Long-term prevalence of oropharyngeal dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients: Impact on quality of life. Clin Nutr 2007;26(6):710-7.
16. Strojan P, Hutcheson KA, Eisbruch A, et al. Treatment of late sequelae after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 2017;59: 79-92.
17. Yedidi RS, Yuen F, Murase JE. Methods for decreasing the incidence of moist desquamation in patients undergoing radiotherapy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2021;85(4):e235.
18. Klopp AH, Yeung AR, Deshmukh S, et al. PatientReported Toxicity During Pelvic IntensityModulated Radiation Therapy: NRG OncologyRTOG 1203. J Clin Oncol 2018;36(24):2538-2544. Erratum in: J Clin Oncol2019 Mar 20;37(9):761. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.00369. Erratum in: J Clin Oncol 2020 Apr 1;38(10):1118. doi: 10.1200/ JCO.20.00346. PMID: 29989857; PMCID: PMC 6097832.
19. Adams E, Boulton MG, Horne A, et al. The effects of pelvic radiotherapy on cancer survivors: symptom profile, psychological morbidity and quality of life. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 2014; 26(1):10-7.
20. Fuccio L, Frazzoni L, Guido A. Prevention of pelvic radiation disease. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther 2015;6(1):1-9.
21. Watters AL, Cope S, Keller MN, et al. Prevalence of trismus in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Head Neck 2019;41(9):3408-3421.
22. Murkute U, Shaikh Nida Nausheen. A study to assess effect of information booklet on knowledge regarding side effect management in the patients of head and neck cancer undergoing external radiation therapy in selected hospital. Int J Health Sci Res 2021; 11(7):281-289.
23. Chetan PS, Vijayalakshmi G. Effectiveness of planned teaching programme on side effects of radiation therapy among oral cancer patients. RGUHS J Nurs Sci 2018;8(2):33-37.
24. Makara BJ, Nagarathnam M. Assessment of knowledge on selected side effects and coping strategies among patients receiving radiation therapy in a state of Andhra Pradesh. IOSR J Nurs Health Sci 2018;7(6):40-46.
