Dietary perceptions and beliefs among families with children undergoing therapy for cancer

Abstract

Background: Malnutrition is associated with inferior survival and increased chemotherapy toxicity. The present study was conducted to evaluate the level of knowledge regarding nutrition and prevalent misconceptions about diet in families with children undergoing therapy for cancer. Procedure: Mothers of children <18 years of age undergoing treatment for cancer were included in the study. A structured questionnaire on diet and hygiene was administered by a physician to the parents. Results: The study enrolled mothers of 72 patients. The median age of patients was 8 years. Sixty-two per cent of the patients were underweight and 6% were obese. Diet was perceived to be causally related to cancer by 20% of mothers. Restriction of specific foods in children with cancer was practiced by 57% of mothers. Junk foods and chicken were the commonest foods avoided. Certain foods were believed to have the potential to boost white blood cell counts among 36% of mothers. There was a disparity between the nutritional status of the children as per anthropometry and maternal perception. Conclusions: Misconceptions regarding diet are prevalent among families with children undergoing therapy for cancer. Formulation of guidelines for nutrition and a robust nutritional education program are essential.

Keywords

• Healthy diet
• Neutropenic diet
• Pediatric cancer
• Nutrition myths
• Maternal education