Assessment of Caregivers’ Knowledge about Home Care of Leukemic Adult Patients at Oncology Wards in Baghdad Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Leukemia is one of the most common cancers. The caregiver is the main provider of physical and emotional support for the patient. Caregivers frequently assist the patients in the activities of daily living, administering medications, providing transportation, preparing meals, managing finances, advocating for health care, and providing emotional support.

Objectives: To assess caregivers’ knowledge regarding general information, healthy nutrition and signs and symptoms of infection.

Subjects and methods: A descriptive design was accomplished in order to assess of caregiver’s knowledge about home care of leukemic adult patients. Purposive (non-probability) samples of 100 caregivers visited oncology wards at Baghdad Teaching Hospital were selected. The data were gathered from March 15 to May 30, 2024.

Results: Significant proportion of caregivers, 87%, have a fair overall knowledge about the home care of leukemia patients, with a mean score of 35.64 (SD = 4.439). In specific areas, 82% of caregivers possess fair general knowledge related to leukemia (M = 12.19, SD = 1.721), 79% have fair knowledge about healthy nutrition (M = 11.84, SD = 1.808), and 81% have fair knowledge concerning the signs and symptoms of infection (M = 11.61, SD = 2.428). Notably, no caregivers fall into the poor knowledge category across all assessed areas.