Informal Caregivers’ Knowledge and Practice of Caring for Neutropenic Patients

Cooperation of informal caregivers on neutropenic patient care is very important. This descriptive study includes interviews with 100 informal caregivers of inpatients who became neutropenic at least two days previously. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews on informal caregivers’ knowledge and practice of caring for patients with neutropenia. The authors found that some rules, such as washing hands and attention to personal cleaning, were known and practiced; other rules, such as having a bath every other day, were less well known.

At a Glance

• Caregivers should be provided with regular training and standard education programs.
• Informal caregivers should be observed when engaged in their routines to assess whether their practice is appropriate in neutropenic patient caring, and nurses should check whether or not their recommendations are being applied and ensure any deficiencies are addressed.
• The verbal instruction provided by nurses for caregivers does not include enough information about care for neutropenic patients.