Assessment of Home Care Management for Caregivers' having Leukemic Adolescent Patient in Erbil city

Abstract

Background: Children with leukemia may experience physical, psychological, cognitive and neuropsychological effects. The caregiver is the main provider of physical and emotional support for the patient.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess caregivers' home care management regarding their adolescent leukemic patient and association with their socio-demographic characteristic.

Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out in Nanakali Hospital for Blood Disease in Erbil city in 1st /Nov. 2010 to 1st /Feb. /2011. Eighty caregivers face to face interviewed for assessing their knowledge and practices regarding their adolescent leukemic patients were selected.

Results: The study shows the majority of caregiver had deficit knowledge regarding cause of leukemia and nutrition to reduce fatigue for adolescent leukemic, and shows the majority of caregivers had poor practices regarding preparing meals and snakes, with poor practice regarding oral hygiene. And the study shows there were a significant association between caregivers' knowledge and: level of education, residency areas, and highly significant association between caregivers' knowledge and practice with their socio-economic status.

Conclusion: This study shows that the caregivers who are having adolescent leukemia patients had deficit in knowledge and low practices regarding home care management.

Recommendations: The study recommended providing information and guidance to caregivers through health educational intervention regarding home care management for leukemia.