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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-08-2018 | Original Article

Perception of need for nutritional support in advanced cancer patients with cachexia: a survey in palliative care settings

Authors: Koji Amano, Tatsuya Morita, Jiro Miyamoto, Teruaki Uno, Hirofumi Katayama, Ryohei Tatara

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 8/2018

Abstract

Purpose

Few studies have investigated the need for nutritional support in advanced cancer patients in palliative care settings. Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire to examine the relationship between the perception of need for nutritional support and cancer cachexia and the prevalence of specific needs, perceptions, and beliefs in nutritional support.

Methods

We conducted a questionnaire in palliative care settings. Patients were classified into two groups: (1) non-cachexia/pre-cachexia and (2) cachexia/refractory cachexia.

Results

A total of 117 out of 121 patients responded (96.7%). A significant difference was observed in the need for nutritional support between the groups: non-cachexia/pre-cachexia (32.7%) and cachexia/refractory cachexia (53.6%) (p = 0.031). The specific needs of patients requiring nutritional support were nutritional counseling (93.8%), ideas to improve food intake (87.5%), oral nutritional supplements (83.0%), parenteral nutrition and hydration (77.1%), and tube feeding (22.9%). The top perceptions regarding the best time to receive nutritional support and the best medical staff to provide nutritional support were “when anorexia, weight loss, and muscle weakness become apparent” (48.6%) and “nutritional support team” (67.3%), respectively. The top three beliefs of nutritional treatments were “I do not wish to receive tube feeding” (78.6%), “parenteral nutrition and hydration are essential” (60.7%), and “parenteral hydration is essential” (59.6%).

Conclusions

Patients with cancer cachexia expressed a greater need for nutritional support. They wished to receive nutritional support from medical staff when they become unable to take sufficient nourishment orally and the negative impact of cachexia becomes apparent. Most patients wished to receive parenteral nutrition and hydration.

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Title: Perception of need for nutritional support in advanced cancer patients with cachexia: a survey in palliative care settings
Authors: Koji Amano
Tatsuya Morita
Jiro Miyamoto
Teruaki Uno
Hirofumi Katayama
Ryohei Tatara
Publication date: 01-08-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 8/2018
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4104-6

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Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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