Patients with cancer experience high impact of emotional consequences of reduced ability to eat: A cross sectional survey study

Abstract

Objective: Patients with cancer can experience emotional consequences of reduced ability to eat, their impact is unknown. This study assesses the impact of these emotional consequences, and patients' satisfaction with healthcare professionals' (HCPs) support.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with head/neck, lung cancer and lymphoma, who experienced reduced ability to eat in the past year.Patients were recruited through patient organisations and hospitals. The questionnaire encompassed the impact of emotional consequences of reduced ability to eat (scale 1-10) and satisfaction with HCPs' support for reduced ability to eat (scale 1-10). The differences in patient characteristics between unsatisfied (Score < 6) and satisfied patients (score ≥6) were tested using independent t-tests and the chi-square or Fishers' exact tests.Results: Overall, 116 patients (48%) responded and 98 were included in the analyses. The most impactful emotional consequences were as follows: disappointment (mean ± SD: 8.31 ± 1.49), grief/sadness (7.90 ± 1.91), and anger (7.87 ± 1.41).Patients were less satisfied when more time had passed since their diagnosis (p < 0.002) and when they expected no improvements regarding their eating problems (p < 0.001). Conclusion:The impact of emotional consequences of reduced ability to eat is high. Support for emotional consequences is needed, especially for patients with reduced ability to eat, which persists in recovery and remission.cancer, eating, patients focused care, psycho-oncology, surveys and questionnaires | INTRODUCTIONPatients with cancer often experience nutritional problems, such as anorexia, taste and smell changes, dry mouth, swallowing problems and nausea (Arends et al., 2016), which can result in insufficient nutritional intake and unintended weight loss (Baracos et al., 2018). Some types of cancer have a high prevalence of nutritional impact symptoms, such as head and neck cancer >90% (Crowder et al., 2018), and lung cancer 67-88% (Lin et al., 2020). In addition to these physical consequences, patients also experience psychosocial

Nutrition intervention goals from the perspectives of patients at risk of malnutrition: A qualitative study

“…Patients can be encouraged through statements such as "what is your goal", 43 or by discussing non-medical aspects that are meaningful to patients, such as emotions and practical challenges. 5,6 Our findings could imply that the dietitians did not invite patients to discuss their goals, which is in line with our previous focus group study with dietitians that described a lack of patient participation in goalsetting. 9 Although participants might not have reflected on goals, the dietitian's working process entails goal-setting.…”

“…In developed Western countries, the estimated prevalence ranges from 30% to 50% across both hospital and primary care settings. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Malnutrition is characterised by deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in an individual's intake of energy and/or nutrients. 1 Although malnutrition can arise from various factors, the present study focuses on the risk of disease related malnutrition.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] This often leads to reduced quality of life. 5,6 Various eating difficulties and nutrition impact symptoms (NIS), such as difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, vomiting, early satiety, diarrhoea and nausea, are commonly associated with malnutrition. 7 Diseaserelated malnutrition can be managed through nutritional support.…”

“…The prevalence of malnutrition is a significant concern both globally and in within the context of developed countries such as Sweden. In developed Western countries, the estimated prevalence ranges from 30% to 50% across both hospital and primary care settings 1–8 . Malnutrition is characterised by deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in an individual's intake of energy and/or nutrients 1 .…”

“…Patients with diagnoses such as cancer, kidney, lung, gastrointestinal and neurological diseases frequently develop disease‐related malnutrition 1–4 . This often leads to reduced quality of life 5,6 . Various eating difficulties and nutrition impact symptoms (NIS), such as difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, vomiting, early satiety, diarrhoea and nausea, are commonly associated with malnutrition 7 .…”