TY - JOUR
T1 - Food safety knowledge and self-reported food-handling practices in cancer treatment
AU - Evans, Ellen W.
AU - Redmond, Elizabeth C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 by the Oncology Nursing Society.
PY - 2018/9
Y1 - 2018/9
N2 - OBJECTIVES: To explore awareness of foodborne infection risk during chemotherapy treatment, to assess knowledge of risk-reducing food safety practices in patients with cancer and their family caregivers, and to determine self-reported foodhandling practices. SAMPLE and SETTING: A convenience sample of 121 patients receiving chemotherapy and 51 family caregivers of patients receiving chemotherapy in the United Kingdom recruited in the community and using online advertising. METHODS and VARIABLES: Participants completed a self-report questionnaire to determine food safety knowledge and self-reported food-handling practices. RESULTS: Although patients receiving chemotherapy and family caregivers reported awareness of food safety practices, self-reported practices indicated that potentially unsafe practices may be used in relation to temperature control, handwashing, safe cooking, and adherence to use-by dates. Such practices may increase the risk of foodborne illness to patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nursing research is required to explore the food safety training and awareness of healthcare providers. Highly focused and specifically targeted food safety interventions need to be developed and delivered to increase awareness and to implement food safety practices.
AB - OBJECTIVES: To explore awareness of foodborne infection risk during chemotherapy treatment, to assess knowledge of risk-reducing food safety practices in patients with cancer and their family caregivers, and to determine self-reported foodhandling practices. SAMPLE and SETTING: A convenience sample of 121 patients receiving chemotherapy and 51 family caregivers of patients receiving chemotherapy in the United Kingdom recruited in the community and using online advertising. METHODS and VARIABLES: Participants completed a self-report questionnaire to determine food safety knowledge and self-reported food-handling practices. RESULTS: Although patients receiving chemotherapy and family caregivers reported awareness of food safety practices, self-reported practices indicated that potentially unsafe practices may be used in relation to temperature control, handwashing, safe cooking, and adherence to use-by dates. Such practices may increase the risk of foodborne illness to patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nursing research is required to explore the food safety training and awareness of healthcare providers. Highly focused and specifically targeted food safety interventions need to be developed and delivered to increase awareness and to implement food safety practices.
KW - Chemotherapy
KW - Family Caregivers
KW - Food Safety
KW - Foodborne Infection
KW - Knowledge
KW - Self-Reported Practices
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052129397&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1188/18.ONF.E98-E110
DO - 10.1188/18.ONF.E98-E110
M3 - Article
C2 - 30118447
AN - SCOPUS:85052129397
SN - 0190-535X
VL - 45
SP - E98-E110
JO - Oncology Nursing Forum
JF - Oncology Nursing Forum
IS - 5
ER -
