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eISSN: 2572-8474

Nursing & Care Open Access Journal

Research Article Volume 1 Issue 2

Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of staff nurses on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at selected cancer hospitals of Punjab

Virendra Singh Choudhary

Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Dasmesh College of Nursing, India

Correspondence: Virendra Singh Choudhary, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Dasmesh College of Nursing, India

Received: October 17, 2016 | Published: November 23, 2016

Citation: Choudhary VS. Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of staff nurses on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at selected cancer hospitals of Punjab. Nurse Care Open Acces J. 2016;1(2):18-24. DOI: 10.15406/ncoaj.2016.01.00009

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Abstract

Many antineoplastic drugs used to treat cancer are known to be teratogenic and mutagenic to patient as well as to staff who administer, handle it. So care by nurses is an important perspective for cancer patients. A non experimental descriptive research design was used. Structured self-administered questionnaire schedule to assess the knowledge and developed 4 point likert scale was used on 50 staff nurses of selected with convenience sampling technique from cancer hospitals of Punjab. The results of the study shown that mean score of staff nurses regarding knowledge was average (14.94) and mean score of their attitude comes out to be positive(59.70). The association between knowledge and attitude with their selected socio-demographic variables was calculated by chi square test and revealed statistically non significant relationship (p>0.05 ).The intention of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of nurses’ on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Overall, nurses appear to have average knowledge and a positive attitude towards nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. So enhancement in knowledge aspects is required and CNE program me or knowledge updating program me should be held time to time.

Keywords: CNE, knowledge, chemotherapy, cancer, hippocrates

Introduction

Health is an ideal state of physical and mental well being: something to strive for but never to attain. Being healthy is very important to live happily and to run a family in good way. Severe illness or injuries can have a very detrimental effect on the family.

The word “CANCER” in Greek language means a crab, which Hippocrates thought a tumor resembled, medically known as a malignant neoplasm, term for group of different disease. Cancer is commonly referred to abnormal unlimited growth or multiplication of immature cells.

“World Cancer Day” is celebrated on 4 February for preventing cancer and raising quality of life of cancer patients.

In 2008 approximately 12.7million cancers were diagnosed and 7.6million people died due to cancer worldwide.1,2

In Punjab, cancer registry programme in 2004-2005 found that whole Malwa region of a population of about 1.5core, there ought to be about 12,000 cancer patients.3

Need of the study

Based on the GLOBOCAN, about 12.7 million cancer cases and 7.6million cancer deaths occurred in 2008; of these, 56% of the cases and 64% of the deaths occurred in the economically developing world. It is estimated that about 9 million cancer cases are diagnosed every year.3 Cancer prevalence in India is estimated to be around 2.5 million, with over 8,00,000 new cases and 5,50,000 deaths occurring each year due to this disease.4 More than 70% of the cases report for diagnostic and treatment services in the advanced stages of the disease, which has lead to a poor survival and high mortality rate.5 The survey conducted in Punjab, from October to December 2012, has covered 2,64,84,434 people in 50,53,447 households in 12,603 villages and 217 cities and towns. This is 97.78 per cent of the population of the Census data. While 23,874 cases of people suffering from cancer have been detected, the numbers of persons complaining of cancer symptoms were 84,453.

Research problem

“Assessment of the knowledge and attitudes of staff nurses on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy selected Cancer Hospitals of Punjab.”

Objective of the study

The main objective of the study to explore the knowledge and attitude of staff nurses regarding care of patient undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Hypothesis

  1. H1A
  2. There will be good knowledge on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy among staff nurses in selected cancer hospitals of Punjab.

  3. H1B
  4. There will be positive attitude on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy among staff nurses in selected cancer hospitals of Punjab.

  5. H1C
  6. There will be significant association between the knowledge and attitude among staff nurses with their selected socio-demographic variables.

Conceptual framework

The conceptual framework chosen for this study is based on health belief model. This model was developed in early 1950 by Becker and Rosens stock.

Review of literature

  1. Knowledge of Nurses related to nursing care of cancer patients undergone chemotherapy
  2. Attitudes of nurses towards nursing care of cancer patient and chemotherapy

Research methodology

In the present study:

  1. Research Approach-Quantitative descriptive.
  2. Research Design -Non Experimental.
  3. Research Setting -Selected cancer hospitals of Punjab.

Target population-Target population included staff nurses of selected cancer hospitals of Punjab:

  1. Sample- Sample was staff nurses of selected cancer hospitals of Punjab.
  2. Sample size-The sample size of present study comprised of 50 staff nurses of selected cancer hospitals of Punjab.
  3. Sampling technique-Non-probability convenience sampling technique.

Selection and development of tools

The tool consisted of 3 parts:
Part-1: consisted of socio - demographic data.
Part-2: consisted of structured knowledge questionnaire.
Part-3: Developed Attitude assessment scale.

Reliability

Reliability of the instrument was established by using split half technique.

Reliability of knowledge questionnaire

Knowledge questionnaires were 30. They were split in half of original number and then co-relation between both the halves was found. By applying split half method correlation coefficient was calculated i.e. r=0.6, r1 i.e. estimated reliability of entire test was also calculated: r1=0.70.

Reliability of attitude scale

Total items of the attitude scale was 22 by applying split half method correlation coefficient was calculated i.e. r= 0.5 r1 i.e. estimated reliability of entire test was also calculated. r1=0.68 both tools were found to be reliable.

Data collection procedure

The researcher collected the data from 03 February 2016 to 19 April 2016 in selected cancer hospitals of Punjab.

  1. The investigator sought a prior permission from the concern authority of selected cancer hospitals of Punjab.
  2. The investigator personally talks telephonically and through mail to every staff nurse and explained about the purpose and nature of study. Their written informed consent was obtained before enrolling them in a present study.
  3. The tool was self administered and mail to all the participants through the email to assess the knowledge and developed 4 point likert attitude scale to assess the attitude.

Ethical consideration

As study was descriptive in nature so does not need any special ethical clearance from any ethical review board. Data collection permission was obtained from concern authority. Written inform consent obtained from subject and their anonymity and confidentiality of data obtained will be maintained.

Data analysis

The Descriptive and inferential Statistical measures was used to analyze the data. For example percentage, Mean, SD was used to assess the knowledge and attitude of staff nurses and Chi square, item analysis was used to check the association of knowledge and attitude with its socio-demographic variables Tables 1-7.

S.No

Socio-Demographic Variables

Frequency

Percentage

1

Age (in years)

  1. 21-25

31

62%

  1. 26-30

15

30%

  1. 31-35

2

4%

  1. 36-40

1

2%

  1. >40

1

2%

2

Gender

  1. Male

2

4%

  1. Female

48

96%

3

Marital status

  1. Married

15

30%

  1. Unmarried

35

70%

  1. Divorced

0

0%

  1. Widower

0

0%

4

Habitat

  1. Rural

29

58%

  1. Urban

21

42%

5

Religion

  1. Hindu

4

8%

  1. Sikh

45

90%

  1. Christian

1

2%

  1. Muslim

0

0%

  1. Any other

0

0%

6

Professional qualification

  1. GNM

38

76%

  1. Post basic nursing

9

18%

  1. Basic nursing

3

6%

  1. M. Sc. Nursing

0

0%

7

Years of experience in cancer unit

  1. <1

21

42%

  1. 1-5

24

48%

  1. 6-10

5

10%

  1. 11-15

0

0%

8

Have you ever attended CNE programme related to chemotherapy

  1. Yes

7

14%

  1. No

43

86%

Table 1 Describing Socio demographic distribution of study subjects.              

N=50

Level of Knowledge Score

Range

N

Percentage

Very poor

0-6

1

2%

Poor

12-Jul

7

14%

Average

13-18

21

42%

Good

19-24

20

40%

Very good

25-30

1

2%

Table 2 Frequency and percentage distribution of knowledge on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy among staff nurses.

N=50

Knowledge

Total samples

Range statistics

Minimum statistics

Maximum statistics

Mean

Std error

Std deviation

50

19

6

25

14.94

0.613

4.335

Table 3 Knowledge Mean scores of staff nurses on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

S. No.

Levels of Attitude

Range

No. of Respondent

Percentage

1

Negative

22-38

0

0

2

Mild negative

39-54

11

22%

3

Mild positive

55-71

37

74%

4

Positive

72-88

2

4%

Table 4 Frequency and percentage distribution of the attitude on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy among staff nurses.

Attitude Scales

Total Samples

Range Statistics

Minimum Statistics

Maximum Statistics

Mean

Std Error

Std Deviation

50

34

46

80

59.7

0.904

6.393

Table 5 Attitudes Mean scores of staff nurses on nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

S/N

Attitude Statement

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

N

%

N

%

N

%

N

%

1

I don't have a problem to give chemotherapy
to patient with taking risks with my
health if the benefits are great
enough.

5

10%

15

30%

22

44%

8

16%

2

I follow the orders as doctor has given
regarding the care of patient undergoing
chemotherapy, other than that I do
not want to take risk on the behalf of
myself even in emergency condition also.

1

2%

20

40%

23

46%

6

12%

3

It is easy to inform patients about
their chemotherapy treatment but
harder to help them emotionally.

0

0%

4

8%

37

74%

9

18%

4

Administering/handling chemotherapy
is no different than administering/handling
intravenous antibiotics.

8

16%

22

44%

18

36%

2

4%

5

Communicating with patients about their treatments
and its side-effects is irritating because
of their over questioning.

5

10%

23

46%

17

34%

5

10%

6

I do not find administering/handling
chemotherapy a challenging part of my role.

3

6%

11

22%

33

66%

3

6%

7

I have poor interest in acquiring
education regarding chemotherapy through
seminar held in hospitals.

14

28%

24

48%

10

20%

2

4%

8

I feel burn out syndrome is more common
among staff in chemotherapy units as
compared to other units.

6

12%

24

48%

17

34%

3

6%

9

It is more interested to care of
patient undergone radiotherapy/surgery
than chemotherapy.

5

10%

12

24%

31

62%

2

4%

10

I think other units are safer than chemotherapy units.

2

4%

15

30%

24

48%

9

18%

11

I think administering chemotherapy
is not as protective as other treatment
because it has more serious side-effect
than other treatment.

2

4%

17

34%

24

48%

4

36%

12

I feel that policies made for administering
chemotherapy in hospital are not always
correct as there is wastage of time
and material than its benefit.

10

20%

24

48%

8

16%

8

16%

13

I feel staff need not to check CBC
report before starting chemotherapy
because doctor’s already check this.

12

24%

19

38%

14

28%

5

10%

14

It does not affect when again patient
come with worst condition due to
effect of chemotherapy because I feel
confident in my competency to deal
with that condition.

1

2%

9

18%

29

58%

11

22%

15

I lost my interest in work due to poor
outcome of chemotherapy.

6

12%

33

66%

11

22%

0

0%

16

I do not like long discussions with
attendants of chemotherapy patients
because it is wastage of time.

6

12%

31

62%

11

22%

2

4%

17

If I asked to change the ward
I will prefer it.

6

12%

27

54%

15

30%

2

4%

18

I avoid to work in cancer department
because side effects of chemotherapy
are not easy to manage.

5

10%

31

62%

13

26%

1

2%

19

To work with chemotherapy patients
and their family members is difficult
as comparative to other patients

3

6%

24

48%

19

58%

5

10%

20

I think patient who are undergone
chemotherapy are just like other patients
they need not any different type of
nursing care.

7

14%

28

56%

15

30%

0

0%

21

I avoid to give chemotherapy to
patients with cancer as it can be
risky for me.

8

16%

30

60%

10

20%

2

4%

22

Knowledge given to patients
regarding chemotherapy supports
them emotionally

2

4%

3

6%

18

36%

27

54%

Table 6 Item analysis of the attitude regarding
nursing care of cancer patients undergoing
chemotherapy.

S.N

Socio- Demographic Variables

Level of Knowledge Score

Chi Square

Df

Level of Attitude

Chi- Square

Df

 

 

Very Poor

Poor

Average

Good

Very good

 

 

-Ve

Mild -Ve

Mild +Ve

+Ve

 

 

7.54*

 

 

12

1.

Age in years

9.25*

9

 

a

21-25

01

08

16

06

00

00

08

22

01

b

26-30

00

04

08

02

01

00

03

12

00

c

31-35

00

01

00

01

00

00

00

01

01

d

36-40

00

00

01

00

00

00

00

01

00

e

>40

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

01

00

2.

Professional qualification

 

 

 

 

9.89*

 

6

a

G.N.M

01

13

17

07

00

 

19.77*

 

12

00

09

27

02

b

Basic Nursing

00

01

06

02

00

00

02

07

00

c

Post-Basic Nursing

00

00

02

00

01

00

00

03

00

d

M. Sc. Nursing

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

3.

Years of experience in cancer unit in years

 

 

 

 

 

a

<1

01

05

12

03

00

 

6.61*

 

8

00

06

15

00

 

4.65*

 

6

b

1-5

00

06

11

06

01

00

04

18

02

c

6-10

00

03

02

00

00

00

01

04

00

d

10-15

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

e

>15

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

4.

Have you attended CNE programme related to Chemotherapy

 

 

 

 

 

a

Yes

00

02

02

03

01

 

3.868*

 

4

00

01

05

01

 

6.896*

 

3

b

No

01

12

23

06

00

00

10

32

01

Table 7 Association of Knowledge and Attitude score with selected demographic variables.

* Non-significant

Discussion

Wiseman T has shown in her study oncology nurses have good knowledge.6 In contrast to the study of results shown poor knowledge of staff nurses on chemotherapy.7 This finding is important for nursing care to cancer patients because if oncology nurses did not have adequate knowledge and not competent in their skills will be considered as unsafe for providing chemotherapy administration to cancer patients and chances for medication errors can be high as various studies in past already highlighted these points. Statistical analysis has shown that staff nurses has mild positive attitude i.e., mean scores were 59.7. Many previous researches have shown nurses have positive attitude towards nursing care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. As in study by Verity and Damrosch also shown positive attitude towards chemotherapy among staff nurses.

In this study, experiences, professional education about chemotherapy appear to have had no effect. These finding contradicted by Verity’s study on staff nurses on chemotherapy, results showed that factors influencing patient care included; staff education and experience other than that nurses receiving regular knowledge updates affect the nursing practice and attitude of staff nurses towards chemotherapy.

Conclusion

The intention of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of nurses’ on nursing care of cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. Overall, nurses appear to have average knowledge and a positive attitude towards nursing care of cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. So to improve their knowledge CNE program me or knowledge updating program me should be regularly conducted for the Nursing fertility.

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest as researcher was not received any financial support from institute or individual. Project was self financed.

Acknowledgements

I acknowledge my sincere thanks to my loving parents Mr. & Mrs. J.R Choudhary, my loving wife Mrs. Geeta Choudhary, Associate Professor Dept. of OBG Nsg. for her valuable guidance and support at every movement of this work and Two little star of my family Pari & Geetesh for understanding my busy schedule and adjusted themselves with that. At the end I thanks to Dr. Gursevak Singh Director DCON, for his unconditional support for me on each stage of my carrier.

References

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