Nutrition and physical activity professional education in gastrointestinal oncology: a national multidisciplinary survey

Abstract

ObjectivesSarcopenia, present in more than 50% of digestive oncology patients, has a negative impact on clinical outcomes. Nutrition and adapted physical activity are two major interventions for the management of sarcopenia. However, young hepato-gastroenterologists, oncologists and surgeons in France have limited awareness on these topics. We aimed to evaluate the need for training programmes of physicians (residents and senior doctors) involved in digestive oncology on nutrition and adapted physical activity.MethodsA 42-question survey was developed, by a working group of clinicians, dieticians and adapted physical activity teachers, to assess five areas related to demographics of respondents, nutrition practices, nutrition training, adapted physical activity practices and adapted physical activity training. The national survey was undertaken between April and July of 2019.Results230 physicians participated in the survey; 34% were hepato-gastroenterologists, 31% were oncologists, 23% were surgeons and 40% were residents. Sixty-one per cent of participants had received training in nutrition and only 21% in adapted physical activity. Ninety per cent of the physicians expressed their desire for more effective training on these two topics. Disparities in clinical practices were observed between hepato-gastroenterologists, oncologists and surgeons.ConclusionsMore initial and continuing training on nutrition and adapted physical activity is needed for French physicians in the current digestive oncology clinical practice.

Opinions and experiences of healthcare professionals in the nutritional management of oncology patients: the ONA study

“…Otros estudios europeos arrojan resultados heterogéneos, en parte debido al tipo de cáncer en el que se centra y/o a las especialidades incluidas. Así, en una encuesta nacional realizada en Francia, el 71 % de los profesionales, en su mayoría hepato-gastroenterólogos y oncólogos, indicaron haber recibido formación en nutrición para el paciente oncológico (22). Por el contrario, acorde con otra encuesta realizada a neumólogos y cirujanos del mismo país en el contexto del cáncer de pulmón, solo el 3,4 % la habían recibido (23).…”

Oral nutritional supplements, physical activity, and sarcopenia in cancer

“…In a survey involving 230 physicians including hepatogastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons, and residents, 61% of them had received training in nutrition and 21% in physical activity. Ninety percent of them expressed the need for more effective training on these two topics [53]. In another survey, 43% of clinicians had limited confidence in their ability to identify and manage sarcopenia, and attributed the reasons to limited access to the tools or skills needed and a lack of services to manage those patients [54].…”