Effect of Nutritional Guidelines on Parents' Knowledge, Regarding Care Provided to their Children Receiving Chemotherapy at Zagazig University

Cancer a broad term that encompasses a wide range of diseases that affect region of body. Cancer defined the rapid growth of aberrant cells beyond normal borders, which subsequently infiltrate adjacent regions of the body and spread to organs, a process known as metastasizing. Metastases a leading cause cancer-related death. There numerous cancer treatment options Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases that can affect any part of the body.The aims of the current study were to Identify the effect of nutritional education guidelines on parents' knowledge, for their children receiving chemotherapy. Research Design: A quasi-experimental study design (pre, post and follow up) was used to evaluate effect of nutritional education guidelines on parents' knowledge, for their children receiving chemotherapy. Settings: The study was conducted in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology unit in pediatric hospital at Zagazig University Children Hospitals. one tool used; a Structured Interview Questionnaire sheet to collect data about characteristics of studied children’s parents and their knowledge. The study results: illustrates a statistically significant difference in total mean score of knowledge among the studied children’s parents pre and post the educational program (P=0.001). Before the program, total mean score of knowledge was 4.53±1.3 which increased to 9.83±2.8 at the post program phase, and declined to 9.21±1.6 at the follow-up phase. These improvements were statistically significant. It can be concluded that the guidelines had improved studied parents' knowledge about cancer nutrition for children receiving chemotherapy. Therefore, this study recommended that. using of innovative methods of health education in teaching all information about cancer and treatment as well as nutritional assessment methods to promote children’s health.