A Study To Assess The Knowledge Regarding Diet Therapy Among The Attendants Of Cancer Patients, In A Selected Hospital, Hyderabad

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge level of attendants of cancer patients regarding cancer diet therapy since diet therapy for cancer patients will help them to regain strength, overcome the side effects of cancer therapies and aid better quality of Life. The objectives of the study were (i) to assess the level of the knowledge about the diet therapy among attendants of cancer patients in Indo-American Cancer hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad and (ii) to seek correlation of selected variables with the level of knowledge regarding diet therapy among attendants of cancer patients. The population in the present study includes attendants of cancer patients between the ages of 25-55 years admitted in Indo-American Hospital. The data for the main study was collected from 10-9-2009 to 13-9-2009 in Indo American Cancer Hospital, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Sample size was 30 patients and simple random sampling technique was felt appropriate as study was done on cancer patients who can read and write English and Telugu. The statistics used for the study was descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and data was interpreted. The sample characteristics were taken in accordance with the age, gender, marital status, educational status and monthly income. The findings related to knowledge revealed that 26.66% of the samples are having below average knowledge, 70% of the samples are having average knowledge and 3.33% of the samples are having above average knowledge levels. Mean knowledge score was higher in people having monthly income >Rs.9000. Hence it is recommended that all the attendants of cancer patients must be given adequate planned teaching program to contribute to prognosis of cancer patients.