INTRODUCTION:

The word cancer is drive from the Latin word ‘crab’, probably because of the way a cancer adheres to any part that is seizes upon in an obstinate manner like the crab. It is a popular, generic term because the actual medical term for the cancer is ‘Neoplasia’ which, from the Greek, means ‘New formation’. The cancer cells are described as malignant neoplasm and are classified and named by tissue of origin.¹

Chemotherapy is a kind of treatment that uses drugs to attack cancer cells. It is called as “systemic treatment” since the drug, entering through the blood stream, travels throughout the body and kills cancer cells at their sites. These drug may rarely be intended to have a local effect, but in most cases, the intention is to destroy cancer cells wherever they may exist in the body. Chemotherapeutic drugs are chemically designed to target cells that are dividing and growing rapidly. Once they reach the cancer cells, they act of retard their growth eventually resulting in their destruction.⁴

The side effects from cancer chemotherapy depend on the type of drug, dosage, frequency and its duration of administration. Generally physical side effects caused by chemotherapy have been well characterized. Among the most common chemotherapy induced side effects are bone marrow suppression, neuropathies, gastrointestinal disorders, skin disorders, hair loss and fatigue. Some drugs specific side effects have also been identified. For example, Anthracyclines and Bleomycin are associated with cardiac toxicity and pulmonary toxicity.⁴

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

A study to assess the knowledge regarding the side effects of chemotherapy among cancer patients in selected hospital, Bangalore.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the knowledge regarding the side effects of chemotherapy among cancer patients in selected hospital, Bangalore

2. To find out the association between knowledge regarding the side effects of chemotherapy among cancer patients with selected demographic variables.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

Assess:

in this study, assess refers to identify the knowledge of cancer patients regarding the side effects of chemotherapy.

Knowledge:

it refers to the understanding and assessing the knowledge regarding the side effects of chemotherapy.

Side effects:

it refers to secondary, typically undesirable effects of chemotherapeutic drugs.

Chemotherapy:

it refers to the use of anti neoplastic agents to destroy the tumor cells by interfering with cellular function.

Cancer patients:

who are undergoing chemotherapy for cancer in selected hospitals, Bangalore.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Research approach:

Non-experimental quantitative approach.

Research design:

Descriptive research design

Setting:

The study was conducted in selected hospitals, Bangalore

Population:

Cancer patients.

Sample:

The sample of the study comprised of 30 cancer patients.

Sampling Technique:

Convenient Sampling technique.

Assumptions:

The study assumed that

1. Cancer patients may have some knowledge regarding side effects if chemotherapy.

2. The knowledge questionnaire which is prepared will be adequate to measure the knowledge of cancer patients.

Limitations:

The study is limited to

1. Cancer patients who are admitted in selected hospitals, Bangalore

2. Cancer patients who are willing to participate in the study.

3. Sample size is limited to 30.

4. Data collection is limited via structured knowledge questionnaire.

5. Cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy.

DATA COLLECTION TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES:

A structured questionnaire was developed for assessing the knowledge regarding side effects of chemotherapy among cancer patients.

Description of the tool:

The questionnaire was designed with two parts:

Part 1: It consist of demographic variables

Part 2: It consist of knowledge questionnaire side effects of chemotherapy among cancer patients.

RESULTS:

Section1: demographic variables:

The frequency and percentage distribution of study shows that majority of the cancer patients 90% belongs to above 26 year age group, with regard to gender majority of the respondents 73% are females, in relation to religion, majority of respondents are Hindu 93%, with regards to educational status, majority of respondents are graduates 64%, in relation to occupational status majority of respondents have occupation other than government employee, business, coolie and 64%, with regard to marital status 84% of respondents are married, in relation of family history 63% of respondents have no family history of cancer, in relation to knowledge regarding side effects of chemotherapy 70% have previous knowledge.

Section 2: Assessment of knowledge level about side effects of chemotherapy among cancer patients:

The study shows that out of 30 respondents 30% having inadequate knowledge, 70% having moderately adequate knowledge and no one has adequate knowledge.

Section 3: Finding the association between the levels of knowledge of cancer patients regarding side effects related to chemotherapy and selected demographic variables:

There is a significant association between selected demographic variables like age, gender, religion, educational status, occupational status and previous knowledge.

CONCLUSION:

Cancer is one of the disease which are flourishing very rapidly throughout the world due to which mortality rate is also going to increased, chemotherapy is the most widely used treatment for a large number of cancer types. The side effects include headache, fatigue, weakness, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, memory impairment and numbness.

RECOMMENDATION:

On the basis of the findings of the study following recommendations have been made

1. The study can be conducted as a large sample

2. A comparative study can be conducted in different settings

3. A self instructional module can be expressed to enhance knowledge.

REFERENCES:

1. Park K A Text book of preventive and social medicine.15^th edition: M/S Banarsidas Banot Publishers; Jabalpur: 1997. P 281-289.

2. British Journal of Cancer, Volume 2, No-1, Jan-March 1997. Page.no 1055-1061

3. Neelam kumara, A Textbook of Nursing Research and Statistics: 3^rd edition, 1^st Volume UK: PV Publications: 2005, Page No-80-83.

4. Copper.S Georgious V, The Impact of Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Perspectives from the Patients, Specialists and Nurses. Eur J Cancer, 284, Page.no 536-578.

Received on 18.08.2020 Modified on 16.09.2020

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2021; 11(1):83-85.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2021.00021.5