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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 9/2012

01-09-2012 | Original Article

A dietitian-led clinic for patients receiving (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Authors: Nicole K. Kiss, Meinir Krishnasamy, Jenelle Loeliger, Alba Granados, Gaelle Dutu, June Corry

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2012

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Abstract

Purpose

Malnutrition is prevalent in head and neck cancer patients and is associated with poorer outcomes and increased health care costs. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability, organisational efficiency and clinical outcomes of a dietitian-led head and neck cancer clinic.

Methods

Two consecutive, independent, patient cohorts were studied with a pre–post-test design of 98 patients prior to the introduction of a dietitian-led clinic (DLC) and the subsequent 100 patients who attended the newly formulated DLC. The two groups were compared for frequency of dietitian intervention, weight loss, enteral feeding, hospital admissions and post-treatment medical follow-up requirements.

Results

Nutritional management in a DLC was associated with reduced nutrition-related admissions from 12% to 4.5% (p = 0.0029), unplanned nasogastric tube insertions from 75% to 39% (p = 0.02), improved transition to oral diet post-radiotherapy from 68.3% to 76.7% (p = 0.10) and reduced radiation oncologist review at 2 weeks post-radiotherapy from 32% to 15% patients (p = 0.009) compared to the cohort prior to the DLC.

Conclusions

A dietitian-led head and neck cancer clinic is associated with improved efficiency and nutritional management of head and neck cancer patients and offers a feasible model of care.
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Metadata
Title
A dietitian-led clinic for patients receiving (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer
Authors
Nicole K. Kiss
Meinir Krishnasamy
Jenelle Loeliger
Alba Granados
Gaelle Dutu
June Corry
Publication date
01-09-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2012
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1321-7

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