Richa Srivastava1, Vineet Govinda Gupta1, Deepa Dhawan1, Kumari Geeta2, Sameer Bakhshi1. 1. a Department of Medical Oncology , Dr BRA Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , New Delhi , India. 2. b Department of Food and Nutrition, Institute of Home Economics , New Delhi , India.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of poor food knowledge and food restrictions among families of children with cancer and assess their impact on nutritional outcomes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study of 700 families of children with cancer who attended a referral cancer clinic, parents were asked 9 questions about nutritional knowledge ("Knowledge score") and 12 questions about food restrictions ("Restriction score"). Secondary outcomes included the nutritional status of children and possible socio-demographic associations of poor food knowledge. FINDINGS: Commercial foods were considered more nutritious than homemade foods. Restriction of protein and energy-rich foods was frequent. Low knowledge scores were associated with rural background, poverty, and illiteracy. Low parental knowledge scores were associated with low weight and low height of the child. High restriction scores were associated with low weight but not low height. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Harmful perceptions are widely prevalent in parents of children with cancer and targeted educational interventions may have a role in improving malnutrition in these children.
PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of poor food knowledge and food restrictions among families of children with cancer and assess their impact on nutritional outcomes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study of 700 families of children with cancer who attended a referral cancer clinic, parents were asked 9 questions about nutritional knowledge ("Knowledge score") and 12 questions about food restrictions ("Restriction score"). Secondary outcomes included the nutritional status of children and possible socio-demographic associations of poor food knowledge. FINDINGS: Commercial foods were considered more nutritious than homemade foods. Restriction of protein and energy-rich foods was frequent. Low knowledge scores were associated with rural background, poverty, and illiteracy. Low parental knowledge scores were associated with low weight and low height of the child. High restriction scores were associated with low weight but not low height. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Harmful perceptions are widely prevalent in parents of children with cancer and targeted educational interventions may have a role in improving malnutrition in these children.
Authors: Zalina Abu Zaid; May Kay Neoh; Zulfitri Azuan Mat Daud; Nor Baizura Md Yusop; Zuriati Ibrahim; Zuwariah Abdul Rahman; Norshariza Jamhuri; Aishah Zafirah Abdul Azim Journal: Nutrients Date: 2022-01-27 Impact factor: 5.717