2.1 subject and setting
The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 315 cancer patients who referred to the oncology clinics of Kerman (one private and two governmental clinics) during February to June 2018. These patients were selected via convenience sampling method and sampling was not restricted to sex, cancer site and clinical stage of cancer. The inclusion criteria were age above 18 years and receiving at least one chemotherapy courses through infusion, injection or oral route. Patients who had completed the chemotherapy course one month before the survey were also eligible for the study.