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Nguyen G, Furness K, Croagh D, Haines T, Hanna L. Supplemental tube feeding: qualitative study of patient perspectives in advanced pancreatic cancer. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2024:spcare-2024-004836. [PMID: 38580394 DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2024-004836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Malnutrition is associated with poor quality of life and survival outcomes for patients with cancer, but is challenging to prevent or treat in pancreatic cancer due to the multifactorial drivers of nutritional decline. A novel application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with a jejunal extension tube to deliver supplementary nutrition may improve outcomes, and will be tested in a randomised controlled trial. This study explored the perspectives of people living with pancreatic cancer regarding the acceptability of this proposed intensive nutrition intervention, to elucidate appropriateness and anticipated barriers, and facilitate informed design of the planned trial. METHODS Participants were patients with pancreatic cancer previously enrolled in a Pancreaticobiliary Cancer Biobank. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone and transcribed verbatim for deductive thematic analysis. The Framework Model was used, with the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability as the analytical framework. RESULTS 10 participants were recruited. Four overarching themes were developed from interviews: (1) deterioration in physical and mental well-being are consequences of debilitating nutrition impact symptoms; (2) willingness to participate depends on an individual threshold for nutritional deterioration; (3) predicted perceived effectiveness outweighed anticipated burdens and (4) adequate dietetic support is needed for maintaining a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension feeding tube at home with confidence. CONCLUSIONS Most participants believed that the intervention would benefit people with advanced pancreatic cancer to maintain their nutrition throughout chemotherapy. Regular and ad hoc support was considered essential, and the degree of individual nutritional deterioration was identified as an important indicator for trial participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Nguyen
- Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kate Furness
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniel Croagh
- Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Terry Haines
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren Hanna
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia
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Furness K, Huggins CE, Hanna L, Croagh D, Sarkies M, Haines TP. Comparison of Goal Achievement during an Early, Intensive Nutrition Intervention Delivered to People with Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer by Telephone Compared with Mobile Application. Int J Telemed Appl 2024; 2024:7841826. [PMID: 38567030 PMCID: PMC10987247 DOI: 10.1155/2024/7841826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This study is aimed at exploring whether the mode of nutrition intervention delivery affected participant goal achievement in a three-arm randomised controlled trial of early and intensive nutrition intervention delivered to upper gastrointestinal cancer patients. Methods Newly diagnosed upper gastrointestinal cancer patients were recruited from four tertiary hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Participants in the intervention groups received a regular nutrition intervention for 18 weeks from an experienced dietitian via telephone or mobile application (app) using behaviour change techniques to assist in goal achievement. Univariate and multiple regression models using STATA determined goal achievement, dose, and frequency of contact between groups. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The telephone group (n = 38) had 1.99 times greater frequency of contact with the research dietitian (95% CI: 1.67 to 2.36, p < 0.001) and 2.37 times higher frequency of goal achievement (95% CI: 1.1 to 5.11, p = 0.03) compared with the mobile app group (n = 36). The higher dose (RR 0.03) of intervention and more behaviour change techniques employed in the telephone group compared with the mobile app group increased participant goal achievement (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.04, p < 0.001). Discussion. Telephone nutrition intervention delivery led to a higher frequency of goal achievement compared to the mobile app intervention. There was also a higher number of behaviour change techniques employed which may have facilitated the greater goal achievement. Mobile app-based delivery may have poorer acceptance in this population with high levels of withdrawal. Practice Implications. We need to ensure that specifically designed technologies for our target populations are fit for purpose, efficacious, and acceptable to both patients and healthcare providers. This trial is registered with ACTRN12617000152325.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Furness
- Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash Health, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
- Dietetics, Department of Nursing and Allied Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia
| | - Catherine E. Huggins
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Lauren Hanna
- Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash Health, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Daniel Croagh
- Upper Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Mitchell Sarkies
- Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Terry P. Haines
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia
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Pemau RC, González-Palacios P, Kerr KW. How quality of life is measured in studies of nutritional intervention: a systematic review. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2024; 22:9. [PMID: 38267976 PMCID: PMC10809546 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-024-02229-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nutrition care can positively affect multiple aspects of patient's health; outcomes are commonly evaluated on the basis of their impact on a patient's (i) illness-specific conditions and (ii) health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Our systematic review examined how HRQoL was measured in studies of nutritional interventions. To help future researchers select appropriate Quality of Life Questionnaires (QoLQ), we identified commonly-used instruments and their uses across populations in different regions, of different ages, and with different diseases. METHODS We searched EMCare, EMBASE, and Medline databases for studies that had HRQoL and nutrition intervention terms in the title, the abstract, or the MeSH term classifications "quality of life" and any of "nutrition therapy", "diet therapy", or "dietary supplements" and identified 1,113 studies for possible inclusion.We then reviewed titles, abstracts, and full texts to identify studies for final inclusion. RESULTS Our review of titles, abstracts, and full texts resulted in the inclusion of 116 relevant studies in our final analysis. Our review identified 14 general and 25 disease-specific QoLQ. The most-used general QoLQ were the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) in 27 studies and EuroQol 5-Dimension, (EQ-5D) in 26 studies. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ), a cancer-specific QoLQ, was the most frequently used disease-specific QoLQ (28 studies). Disease-specific QoLQ were also identified for nutrition-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and dysphagia. Sixteen studies used multiple QoLQ, of which eight studies included both general and disease-specific measures of HRQoL. The most studied diseases were cancer (36 studies) and malnutrition (24 studies). There were few studies focused on specific age-group populations, with only 38 studies (33%) focused on adults 65 years and older and only 4 studies focused on pediatric patients. Regional variation in QoLQ use was observed, with EQ-5D used more frequently in Europe and SF-36 more commonly used in North America. CONCLUSIONS Use of QoLQ to measure HRQoL is well established in the literature; both general and disease-specific instruments are now available for use. We advise further studies to examine potential benefits of using both general and disease-specific QoLQ to better understand the impact of nutritional interventions on HRQoL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia González-Palacios
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute (IBS), Granada, Spain
| | - Kirk W Kerr
- Abbott Nutrition, 2900 Easton Square Place, Columbus, OH, 43219, USA.
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Hwang M, Jiang Y. Personalization in digital health interventions for older adults with cancer: A scoping review. J Geriatr Oncol 2023; 14:101652. [PMID: 37866009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2023.101652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Digital health interventions (DHIs) are promising to support older adults with cancer in managing their conditions and improving their health outcomes. However, there is a lack of overall understanding of various DHIs for the aging population with cancer. Specifically, it is unclear how personalization components are included in those DHIs to promote engagement in the interventions among older adults with cancer. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of existing DHIs for older adults with cancer and identify the intervention components, especially personalized features, and effectiveness of these DHIs for improving self-management and psychosocial health. MATERIALS AND METHODS A scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, focusing on older adults diagnosed with cancer who participated in DHIs to improve self-management and psychosocial health. Studies using an experimental design and published from 2000 to January 2023 were retrieved from four databases: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Scopus. After primary data extraction of study characteristics, participants, interventions, and outcomes, DHIs were categorized according to personalized features. RESULTS Out of 9,750 articles, 20 were eligible for this scoping review. The main personalized features of DHIs were categorized into four domains: goal setting, adjusting the plan, data-driven approaches, and motivating behavioral changes. Self-management outcomes were focused on physical activity, diet, and symptom management. Quality of life, depression, and anxiety were addressed as psychosocial health-related outcomes. Although no consistent results were reported on the effectiveness, DHIs with a combination of multiple personalized features, more than three domains, were likely to be more effective in improving self-management outcomes. DISCUSSION This review enhances the understanding of personalized DHIs for older adults with cancer by identifying intervention components, personalized features, and effectiveness on self-management and psychosocial health. Several gaps were identified, including the absence of targeted studies exclusively focusing on older adults, a relative scarcity of personalized features for improving patient engagement, a lack of understanding of the mechanism of effective personalized features, and the necessity for more experimental studies. Addressing these gaps can contribute to improving health outcomes and the quality of care for older adults with cancer by providing the direction for developing effective DHIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misun Hwang
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, MI, USA.
| | - Yun Jiang
- University of Michigan School of Nursing, MI, USA
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Li Y, Li J, Hu X. The effectiveness of symptom management interventions based on electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) for symptom burden, quality of life, and overall survival among patients with cancer: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Nurs Stud 2023; 147:104588. [PMID: 37690275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the effectiveness of ePRO-based symptom management interventions on symptom burden, quality of life, and overall survival among patients with cancer for the first time and to explore the effects of different types of these interventions. BACKGROUND Since advances in screening and treatment have transformed cancer into a chronic illness rather than a fatal disease, symptom management has become increasingly critical in oncology nursing. In recent decades, ePROs have been increasingly used in the symptom management of cancer patients to improve their symptom burden, quality of life and overall survival, but the existing findings are still inconsistent and equivocal. METHODS A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web-of-Science, CENTRAL, and CINAHL-Plus-with-Full-Text from inception to January 31, 2023. The quality of methodology and evidence were evaluated by the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework. All data were analyzed using R within the RStudio platform, and the effects of interventions were determined by calculating SMD, HR and 95 %CI. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis and cumulative meta-analysis were performed, and statistical heterogeneity was examined by I2 statistic, P value, and Egger's or arcsine test. Statistical significance was defined as a two-tailed P value <0.05. RESULTS A total of 23 randomized controlled trials with 7231 patients were included. The results indicated that ePRO-based symptom management interventions could improve the symptom burden (SMD = -0.19, 95 % CI [-0.33, -0.05], P < 0.01), quality of life (SMD = 0.16, 95 % CI [0.06, 0.25], P < 0.01) and overall survival (HR = 0.84, 95 % CI [0.73, 0.97], P = 0.02) of cancer patients. Subgroup analysis showed that targeted interventions for patients undergoing specific treatments were effective in relieving the symptom burden and enhancing quality of life. Short-term (≤3 months) interventions or reporting via telephone call contributed to alleviating the symptom burden, while quality of life improved when the intervention was more than three months in duration or not reported by telephone call. The pooled results of symptom burden and quality of life were stable, and the beneficial trends of all three outcomes were steady. The overall quality of methodology and evidence was moderate. CONCLUSIONS We found that ePRO-based symptom management interventions are conducive to improving symptom burden, quality of life, and overall survival of cancer patients. In addition to encouraging the integration of ePRO-based interventions into routine oncology care, interventions with tailored plans, proper intensity and multidimensional supports need to be developed in the future to optimize the symptom management of cancer patients. REGISTRATION CRD42023393330.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhuan Li
- Department of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, PR China
| | - Juejin Li
- Department of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, PR China
| | - Xiaolin Hu
- Department of Nursing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, PR China.
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Lazar DE, Postolica R, Hanganu B, Mocanu V, Ioan BG. Web-based nutrition: a useful resource for cancer patients? Front Nutr 2023; 10:1134793. [PMID: 37457987 PMCID: PMC10348813 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1134793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction An accessible and affordable way to deliver behavior change programs to a large proportion of the growing community of cancer patients and survivors is through web-based methods of nutritional counselling. Objective The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of web-based nutritional therapies targeting physical activity, diet, and/or weight control for cancer patients or survivors, primarily disseminated via modern technologies (mobile phone applications) or online. Materials and methods The authors conducted a structured search of the PubMed database. Studies that have focused on physical activity (PA) and dietary change and/or weight control in adolescent and adult cancer patients and survivors have reported outcomes conducted via a broad modality. Results Nine articles focused on web-based nutrition for patients with cancer and cancer survivors. They were conducted in the United States, Australia, Korea, China, and in the United Kingdom, and were published between 2018 and 2022 in a variety of scientific journals. The number of participants ranged from 20 to 159. Conclusion Web-based nutrition counselling helps cancer patients and survivors improve their dietary intake, impacts their weight and quality of life, and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Future research should evaluate (1) the differences in cost and coverage between face-to-face and web-based nutrition, (2) long-term outcomes, (3) cost-effectiveness, and last but not least, (4) the effectiveness of web-based nutrition in adolescents and children who suffer from cancer or who survived cancer, as nutritional status and body composition have a marked impact on clinical outcomes during and after treatment. The strength of this review lies in the large number of randomized controlled trials, which offer a guarantee of effectiveness and objectivity compared to cross-sectional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Elena Lazar
- Doctoral School, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
- Municipal Hospital “St. Hierarch Dr. Luca”, Onesti, Romania
| | - Roxana Postolica
- Department of Psychology, Regional Institute of Oncology, Iași, Romania
| | - Bianca Hanganu
- IIIrd Medical Department, Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
| | - Veronica Mocanu
- Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences (Pathophysiology), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
| | - Beatrice Gabriela Ioan
- IIIrd Medical Department, Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania
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Jiang X, Chen J, Yuan X, Lin Y, Chen Y, Li S, Jiang Q, Yu H, Du Q, Peng J. Feasibility of an Individualized mHealth Nutrition (iNutrition) Intervention for Post-Discharged Gastric Cancer Patients Following Gastrectomy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15081883. [PMID: 37111102 PMCID: PMC10144256 DOI: 10.3390/nu15081883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: A major challenge for post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy is the impact of the anatomy change on decreased oral intake, nutritional status, and, ultimately, quality of life. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of an individualized mHealth nutrition (iNutrition) intervention in post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy. (2) Methods: A mixed-method feasibility study with a parallel randomized controlled design was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to either the iNutrition intervention group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 12). Participants completed measures at baseline (T0), four (T1), and twelve weeks (T2) post-randomization. (3) Results: Recruitment (33%) and retention (87.5%) rates along with high adherence and acceptability supported the feasibility of the iNutrition intervention for post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy, echoed by the qualitative findings. The iNutrition intervention significantly improved participants' nutritional behavior (p = 0.005), energy intake (p = 0.038), compliance with energy requirements (p = 0.006), and compliance with protein requirements (p = 0.008). (4) Conclusions: The iNutrition intervention is feasible and potentially benefits post-discharged gastric cancer patients following gastrectomy. A larger trial is required to establish the efficacy of this approach. Trial Registration: 19 October 2022 Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200064807.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Jiang
- School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jiamin Chen
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiuhong Yuan
- Department of Gastric Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yijia Lin
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingliang Chen
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Sijia Li
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiuxiang Jiang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qianqian Du
- School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junsheng Peng
- School of Nursing, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Testa S, Furness K, Choi T, Haines T, Huggins CE. The roles of the dietitian in an 18-week telephone and mobile application nutrition intervention for upper gastrointestinal cancer: a qualitative analysis. Support Care Cancer 2023; 31:245. [PMID: 36977801 PMCID: PMC10049904 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-07684-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to explore the patient-dietitian experience during an 18-week nutrition counselling intervention delivered using the telephone and a mobile application to people newly diagnosed with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer to (1) elucidate the roles of the dietitian during intervention delivery and (2) explore unmet needs impacting nutritional intake. METHODS Qualitative case study methodology was followed, whereby the case was the 18-week nutrition counselling intervention. Dietary counselling conversations and post-intervention interviews were inductively coded from six case participants which included fifty-one telephone conversations (17 h), 244 written messages, and four interviews. Data were coded inductively, and themes constructed. The coding framework was subsequently applied to all post-study interviews (n = 20) to explore unmet needs. RESULTS Themes describing the roles of the dietitian were as follows: regular collaborative problem-solving to encourage empowerment, a reassuring care navigator including anticipatory guidance, and rapport building via psychosocial support. Psychosocial support included provision of empathy, reliable care provision, and delivery of positive perspective. Despite intensive counselling from the dietitian, nutrition impact symptom management was a core unmet need as it required intervention beyond the scope of practice for the dietitian. CONCLUSION Delivery of nutrition care via the telephone or an asynchronous mobile application to people with newly diagnosed UGI cancer required the dietitian to adopt a range of roles to influence nutritional intake: they empower people, act as care navigators, and provide psychosocial support. Limitations in dietitians' scope of practice identified unmet patient's needs in nutrition impact symptom management, which requires medication management. TRIAL REGISTRATION 27th January 2017 Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12617000152325).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharni Testa
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Kate Furness
- Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia
- Department of Nursing and Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Tammie Choi
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Terry Haines
- Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Monash University, Level 3 Building G, McMahons Road, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia
| | - Catherine E Huggins
- Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
- School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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