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Nutritional care of cancer patients: a survey on patients’ needs and medical care in reality

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International Journal of Clinical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Cancer patients represent a patient group with a wide-range of nutrition related problems which are often under-recognized and undertreated. In order to assess the status quo of nutritional care in Germany, we conducted a survey among patients with different types of cancer.

Methods

A standardized questionnaire was distributed online by two national umbrella organizations for self-help groups.

Results

1335 participants completed the questionnaire. 69 % of the participants reported having received information on nutrition and/or specific nutrition-related symptoms. Most often this information was derived from print media (68.5 %) or from within self-help groups (58.7 %). 57.0 % of participants reported having had questions concerning nutrition and/or problems with food intake. most frequently named topics of interest were “healthy diet” (35.0 %) weakness/fatigue (24.3 %), dietary supplements (21.3 %) and taste changes (19.8 %). Nutrition information was most often provided by dietitians (38.7 %) followed by physicians (9.8 %). Women reported receiving nutrition counseling in the hospital nearly twice as often as men (12.5 % versus 5.7 %; p < 0.001). A quarter of the patients (24.1 %) reported using dietary supplements and patients who had received some sort of nutrition information more often reported using supplements (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Nutrition is an essential element in cancer care and patients report a high interest and need: Yet, many patients do not have access to high quality nutrition therapy during and after cancer therapy.

Implications for cancer survivors

With respect to survival and quality of life, increasing the availability and resources for provision of evidence based nutrition information seems mandatory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Working Group Integrative Oncology, Dr. Senckenberg Chronomedical Institute, J.W. Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany

    J. Huebner

  2. Dr. Senckenberg Chronomedical Institute, J.W. Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany

    J. Maschke

  3. Das Lebenshaus e.V. (House of Life), Untergasse 36, 61200, Wölfersheim, Germany

    K. Kastrati

  4. Self-help group Women after cancer, Thomas-Mann-Straße 40, 53111, Bonn, Germany

    U. Kruk

  5. Working group of patients after pancreatectomy, Thomas-Mann-Straße 40, 53111, Bonn, Germany

    J. Kleeberg

  6. Dietetic Unit, Faculty Agriculture and Food Sciences, Hochschule Neubrandenburg-University of Applied Sciences, Brodaer Str. 2, 17033, Neubrandenburg, Germany

    D. Buchholz

  7. Else Kröner-Fresenius Prevention Center, Department of Prevention and Sports Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich (TUM), Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany

    N. Erickson

Authors
  1. J. Maschke
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  2. U. Kruk
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  3. K. Kastrati
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  4. J. Kleeberg
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  5. D. Buchholz
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  6. N. Erickson
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  7. J. Huebner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Huebner.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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There was no funding for this study.

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Maschke, J., Kruk, U., Kastrati, K. et al. Nutritional care of cancer patients: a survey on patients’ needs and medical care in reality. Int J Clin Oncol 22, 200–206 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-016-1025-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-016-1025-6

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