Journal
APPLIED NURSING RESEARCH
Volume 56, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.apnr.2020.151335
Keywords
Breast cancer; Chemotherapy knowledge; Chemotherapy treatment; Health literacy; Patient education
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Funding
- Susan G. Komen(R) [GTDR17500160]
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Translational Research Institute (TRI) through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) [KL2TR003108, UL1TR003107]
- Arkansas Breast Cancer Research Program
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Background: Chemotherapy knowledge is linked to managing side effects, reducing exposure to potential infection, and adjusting lifestyle behaviors while going through treatment. However, no research exists regarding the influence of patients' personal attributes on chemotherapy knowledge. Aim The aim of this study was to describe the relationships of health literacy and demographics on chemotherapy knowledge among women with breast cancer undergoing treatment. Method: We used a descriptive, exploratory design with convenience sampling of women with breast cancer receiving intravenous chemotherapy who completed one mandatory education session. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and three instruments: 1) Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy - Short Form (REALM-SF); 2) Shortened Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA); and 3) Leuven Questionnaire on Patient Knowledge of Chemotherapy (L-PaKC). We used univariate linear regression and ANOVA to identify how health literacy and demographics influenced chemotherapy knowledge. Results: The REALM-SF (p = .022) and S-TOFHLA (p = .023) scores were significantly associated with chemotherapy knowledge. Chemotherapy knowledge scores were affected by marital status (p = .018) and income (p < .001) where married women had significantly higher chemotherapy knowledge scores (M = 92.6, SD = 6.6) than women who were divorced (M = 83.3, SD = 16.7) with a knowledge score difference of -9.3 between the groups (p = .02). Comparisons showed significant differences of chemotherapy knowledge between women with differing income levels. Conclusions: This study highlights the relevance of considering patients' health literacy and personal attributes such as marital status and income when teaching about chemotherapy.
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