Caregivers’ Knowledge about Types of Childhood Cancers.( A prospective cohort study)

Abd-Elhakeem, Gehan Lotfy; Hassan, Ebtesam Esmail; Hassan Ahmed, Esraa Ahmed; Abdelsamei, Ebtihal Mokhtar

doi:10.21608/mjmr.2025.359686.1903

Caregivers’ Knowledge about Types of Childhood Cancers.( A prospective cohort study)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt

² Public Health and Preventive Medicine Department , Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt

³ pediatric department, faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt

⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, El-Minia, Egypt

10.21608/mjmr.2025.359686.1903

Abstract

Background: Pediatric cancers cast a dark shadow over the lives of countless children and their families and represent a leading cause of mortality among children worldwide.

Aim: To assess the caregivers’ knowledge regarding types of childhood cancers.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study that was conducted on the caregivers of all children diagnosed with different cancer types recruiting to Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit in Minia University Hospital and Minia Oncology Center from March 2024 to September 2024. All these caregivers were invited to answer the questionnaire after being given a written consent to participate. In this study the enrolled patients were classified into the following three groups based into their age: Group 1 (patients’ age below 5 years), group 2 (patients’ age from 5:12 years) and group 3 (patients’ age above 12 years). This study includes 149 caregivers. All caregivers were subjected to the well- formed structural questionnaire to assess the caregivers’ knowledge regarding types of childhood cancer.

Results: There was a statistically significant increase in knowledge about childhood cancer definition symptoms signs and types regarding the increase in the duration of childhood cancer. No statistically significance between demographic data and childhood cancer types regarding role, gender and residency

Conclusions: In conclusion, the study reveals significant knowledge gaps among caregivers about childhood cancer types. While some are aware of common cancer signs, symptoms and types.

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