Modifications in eating behavior of children and adolescents with leukemia: family caregivers experience

Abstract

Objective: To understand the experience of family caregivers facing modifications in the behavior and food routine of children and adolescents undergoing leukemia treatment. Methods: Qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research, carried out from July to December 2020. It was semi-structured interviews were applied and analyzed through textual discourse analysis. Results: The categories emerged: Family caregivers' sociodemographic characterization. Side effects presented by children and adolescents in leukemia treatment from the family caregivers' perspective. Adaptations of family caregivers face the changes in the feeding behavior of the child and adolescent in leukemia treatment. Conclusion: There is the need to evaluate the acceptance of the menu offered and to trace strategies to improve the acceptance of hospital feeding. It is essential to perform educational actions with family caregivers about feeding in this treatment period, in addition to providing printed material for them to succeed in this challenge, which are the changes in behavior and eating routine of children and adolescents in hemato-oncologic treatment.