Caregiver Factors Influencing the Nutritional Status among Head and Neck Cancer Patients During Radiation Therapy

Abstract

         This predictive study aims to examine the influence of nutritional literacy of caregivers, the role of caregivers on nutrition, and relationships between caregivers and patients on nutritional status in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients during radiation therapy by derived Roy’s Adaptation Model as a conceptual framework. The sample consisted of 120 family caregivers and patients who were diagnosed with HNC undergoing radiation therapy at the Radiation Department at two university hospitals. Samples were recruited by purposive sampling. The research instruments consisted of 1) Demographic data of head and neck cancer patients and caregivers 2) Nutritional Literacy questionnaires of caregivers 3) Role of caregivers on nutritional questionnaires 4) The relationships between caregivers and patients’ questionnaires and 5) Nutritional status assessment of patients. The content validity index (CVI) was 0.87, 0.91, 0.88 and 0.93 respectively, and calculated to Cronbach’ s Alpha Coefficient was 0.86, 0.89, 0.83 and 0.71 respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.           

         The results revealed that the significant influential factors affecting the nutritional status were 1) nutritional literacy of caregivers (β = 0.13, p > 0.05) 2) role of caregivers on nutritional (β = -0.24, p < 0.05), and 3) relationships between caregivers and patients (β = 0.24, p < 0.05). The 3 independent variables were statistically significantly impacted at 7% of the variance for nutritional status (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that nurses should assess the nutritional status of HNC periodically. Then encourage family caregivers to be a part of caring, if the patients were at risk of malnutrition. Nurses incorporate with caregiver should provide an effective intervention to improve the patients’ nutritional status as soon as possible.