# Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of chemotherapy adverse reactions and care among patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma

## TL;DR

This study examines how patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma understand and manage chemotherapy side effects, finding moderate knowledge and good practices, with suggestions for targeted education.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel application of structural equation modeling to explore the interplay between knowledge, attitudes, and practices in chemotherapy care.

## Key findings

- Patients showed moderate knowledge and positive attitudes about chemotherapy adverse reactions.
- Knowledge significantly influenced both attitudes and practices, both directly and indirectly.
- Targeted interventions are recommended to improve chemotherapy management among rural and lower-income patients.

## Abstract

To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding chemotherapy adverse reactions and care among patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma.

This cross-sectional study was conducted between March, 2024, and May, 2024, at the Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, China. The participants included patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma. The KAP scores were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire. The KAP levels were evaluated based on Bloom's cutoff value, and the associations among KAP were evaluated by logistic regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis.

A total of 422 patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma participated in this study. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 12.93 ± 4.21 (range: 0–22), 27.57 ± 3.72 (range: 7–35), and 33.57 ± 3.19 (range: 8–40), respectively. The regression analysis indicated that knowledge scores significantly influenced attitudes (OR = 1.397, P < 0.001) and practice (OR = 1.235, P < 0.001). SEM analysis revealed that knowledge significantly influences practice behaviors directly (β = 0.161, P < 0.001) and indirectly through attitudes (β = 0.649, P < 0.001).

Patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma demonstrated moderate knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practices regarding chemotherapy adverse reactions and care. Targeted interventions to improve knowledge, especially among rural and lower-income patients, may enhance overall attitudes and practices toward chemotherapy management.