Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of family members of children undergoing chemoradiotherapy regarding oral mucositis

Objective

To explored the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of family members of children receiving chemoradiotherapy concerning oral mucositis.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 15, 2023, to May 31, 2024, in the oncology ward of Wuhan Children's Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, using a custom-designed KAP questionnaire.

Results

Of the 364 valid responses, 63.19% were from female family members. Most children (45.33%) received treatment for over six months, and 38.74% were diagnosed with oral mucositis. The participant's median (P25–P75) for knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 6 (5, 7) (possible range: 0–7), 27 (24, 30) (possible range: 6–30), and 17 (14, 21) (possible range: 5–30), respectively. A significant 36.26% were unsure about the link between radiotherapy and oral mucositis. Only 14.56% were neutral or disagreed on the importance of special oral care. On the practical side, 69.78% of children never used dental floss and 31.59% had never visited the hospital for oral check-ups, though most participants preferred receiving information from medical professionals. Further correlation analysis revealed positive correlations between knowledge scores and attitude scores (r ​= ​0.270, P ​< ​0.001), as well as between knowledge scores and practice scores (r ​= ​0.164, P ​= ​0.002). Additionally, attitude scores were positively correlated with practice scores (r ​= ​0.280, P ​< ​0.001).

Conclusions

Family members of children undergoing chemoradiotherapy have adequate knowledge and positive attitudes about oral mucositis, but this does not always lead to proactive practices. Educational interventions should enhance knowledge and encourage its application in daily caregiving to manage oral mucositis effectively.