Perceived food literacy in women with gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy.

PURPOSE

Cancer patients must develop food literacy to successfully adapt to dietary changes and enhance their health management. This study is aimed at assessing the perceived food literacy of women undergoing chemotherapy for gynecologic cancer.

METHOD

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 136 gynecologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Chemotherapy Unit of the Department of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery in a university hospital in Turkey. Data were collected using the "Participant Information Form" and the "Perceived Food Literacy Scale." Statistical analysis was performed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

The mean age of the participants was 53.92 ± 13.04 years, with 49.3% diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 38.2% with ovarian cancer. The average number of chemotherapy cycles was 2.86 ± 1.87. The median total score for perceived food literacy was 104.00 (IQR = 20.00), indicating a high level of food literacy. Women with an income exceeding their expenses, those who consumed 1-2 daily snacks, those who had received nutrition education, and those with prior knowledge of food literacy had notably higher median perceived food literacy scores.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that women with gynecologic cancer receiving chemotherapy had a high level of food literacy.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Food literacy is necessary for living well beyond individual and physical health. Cancer patients must acquire food literacy to implement effective dietary modifications and enhance their health management. Healthcare professionals should emphasize the nutritional practices of women with gynecologic cancer throughout the entire chemotherapy process, and oncology nurses should design patients' nutrition plans based on food literacy.