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Experiences of patients with cancer with information and support for psychosocial consequences of reduced ability to eat: a qualitative interview study

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Abstract

Purpose

Patients with cancer may experience emotions such as anger or sadness due to tumour- or treatment-related reduced ability to eat. These emotions can be provoked by patients’ own struggle with eating, by misunderstanding of their struggle by others, or by less pleasure in social activities. Literature indicates that patients with cancer may experience a lack of information and support regarding psychosocial consequences of reduced ability to eat. The aim of this qualitative study is to gain insights into experiences with this information and support.

Method

Transcripts of semi-structured interviews with 24 patients with cancer who experience(d) psychosocial consequences of reduced ability to eat were thematically analysed. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Atlas.ti.

Results

Patients expressed positive experiences with information and support for psychosocial consequences of reduced ability to eat while receiving multidisciplinary recognition and personalised care. Patients expressed negative experiences when healthcare professionals only assessed topics within their own expertise, or when healthcare professionals mainly focused on their nutritional intake. Informal support for reduced ability to eat was positively evaluated when informal caregivers tried to understand their situation. Evaluation of informal practical support varied among patients.

Conclusion

Patients with cancer who experience psychosocial consequences of reduced ability to eat both need professional and informal support. Recognition of these consequences from healthcare professionals is important, as well as understanding from informal caregivers.

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Data availability

The corresponding author has full control to all primary data and allows the journal to review the data upon request.

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Code availability

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Funding

This study was funded by Zorg Instituut Nederland, “Transparantie over de kwaliteit van zorg bij ernstige somatische aandoeningen”, Grant 2017.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research & Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, PO-box 19079, 3501 DB, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Nora Lize, Sandra Beijer & Natasja Raijmakers

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology – Dietetics and Intestinal Failure, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Vera IJmker-Hemink & Manon van den Berg

  3. Department of Dietetics, Maxima MC, Veldhoven, Veldhoven, The Netherlands

    Rianne van Lieshout, Yvonne Wijnholds-Roeters & Maggy Youssef-El Soud

  4. Netherlands Association for Palliative Care, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Natasja Raijmakers

Authors
  1. Nora Lize
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  2. Vera IJmker-Hemink
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  3. Rianne van Lieshout
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  4. Yvonne Wijnholds-Roeters
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  6. Maggy Youssef-El Soud
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  7. Sandra Beijer
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  8. Natasja Raijmakers
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Nora Lize, Natasja Raijmakers, and Sandra Beijer. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Nora Lize and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nora Lize.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Approval was obtained from the ethics committee of Maxima MC in Veldhoven (METC N18.032). The procedures used in this study adhere to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent to participate

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

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Lize, N., IJmker-Hemink, V., van Lieshout, R. et al. Experiences of patients with cancer with information and support for psychosocial consequences of reduced ability to eat: a qualitative interview study. Support Care Cancer 29, 6343–6352 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06217-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06217-6

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