Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the level of knowledge and the attitude of patients on radiation therapy at Bugando Cancer Center.

Background: High-income countries have the highest knowledge and attitude about radiation therapy with 92% as the level of knowledge and most of the participants had a positive attitude. Low middle-income countries have a moderate to poor attitude with 39-40% as the level of knowledge and attitude. In Tanzania less than 50% of the participants had no information on radiation therapy and their attitude was negative mainly due to lack of information, highlighting the need for improved communication between patients and medical professionals.

Methods and materials: A crossing sectional study was conducted for all patients who were to undergo simulation prior to radiotherapy at Bugando Cancer Center in a period of 1 month. A set of questions were prepared and a checklist which aimed at measuring the level of knowledge of patients. All data were collected and analyzed with the help of Microsoft excel 2019 a statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 20.

Results: A total of 92 patients were involved in the study of which males were 22(23.9%) and females were 77(76.1%). Of the 92 patients 81(88%) had no or low knowledge on radiation therapy. 76(82.6%) of the patients had a positive attitude towards radiation therapy and the remaining had a negative attitude. From the study no association was found between gender and knowledge p=0.672 but there was association between age and knowledge and education p=0.03 and knowledge p=0.00- .

Conclusion: Knowledge and attitude of cancer patients towards radiation therapy significantly impact their treatment experience and outcomes. Identifying knowledge disparities and addressing patients' concerns through targeted educational interventions and enhanced healthcare provider communication can lead to improved treatment experiences and adherence