Role of Nurses in Nutritional Assessment of Patients with Cancer

Abstract

Objective: To assess role of nurses in nutritional assessment of patient with cancer. 

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study 
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Oncology Center, Middle Euphrates Oncology Teaching Hospital, Iraq from 12th March 2025 to 31st May 2025. 

Methods: Non-probability- convenience sampling method used; the sample consist of 170 nurses who work in the oncology units were selected and number of the sample determined by using Richard Geiger's equation. A specific questionnaire was prepared after an extensive review of related literature in the topic of interest phenomena. The questionnaire was divided into three parts. Content validity of the instrument is obtained by panel of 10 experts from multidisciplinary field, who have not less than 7 years of experience in their specialty. Self-report method used to collect the data by nurses in different shifts (morning and evening). The participants need about 15 to 20 minutes to complete the questionnaire. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test factors analysis was used to determine the validity which recorded (0.7) which is statistically expected. 

Results: Majority of females between 20-30 years, Bachelor’s holders and live in urban area, regarding overall general information about nutritional assessment results recorded a fair level of knowledge, no significant 
association between nurse’s role and their demographical characteristics. 

Conclusions: The overall general information about nutritional assessment results recorded a fair level of knowledge.