Strasser F, Binswanger J, Cerny T, Kesselring A
Department of Internal Medicine, Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Palliat Med. 2007 Mar;21(2):129-37. doi: 10.1177/0269216307076346.
Anorexia/cachexia is a frequent complication of advanced cancer with poorly understood psychosocial impact or eating-related distress (ERD) on both patients and family members. To assist palliative care practitioners manage this important psychosocial aspect of care, we aimed to discover and describe elements of ERD, focusing on male patients with advanced cancer and their female partners.
Nineteen male patients and their partners were systematically investigated by (1) focus group interviews and data analysis inspired by Grounded Theory, and (2) a comparative survey with categorical questions.
For patients, eating-related distress was characterised by obstruction to eating, poor and capricious appetite, a disconnection of oral intake and ability to gain weight, and continuous efforts to eat. Partners expressed feelings of deep concern, frustration, and insufficiency in their loving and innovative efforts to prepare appealing food. Partners were more concerned about patients' weight loss than patients themselves (P =0.002). Patients felt more pressure to eat from partners than they estimated (P =0.007).
Anorexia/cachexia of male cancer patients affects the cooking at home, a couple's daily eating routines, and their spousal relationship. Identification of ERD may trigger targeted psychosocial interventions.
厌食/恶病质是晚期癌症常见的并发症，对患者及其家属的心理社会影响或饮食相关困扰（ERD）了解甚少。为帮助姑息治疗从业者处理这一重要的心理社会护理问题，我们旨在发现并描述ERD的要素，重点关注晚期癌症男性患者及其女性伴侣。
通过（1）基于扎根理论的焦点小组访谈和数据分析，以及（2）带有分类问题的比较调查，对19名男性患者及其伴侣进行了系统调查。
对于患者来说，饮食相关困扰的特征包括进食受阻、食欲不佳且多变、口服摄入量与体重增加能力脱节以及持续的进食努力。伴侣们表示，他们在准备诱人食物的关爱和创新努力中深感担忧、沮丧且力不从心。伴侣比患者本人更担心患者体重减轻（P = 0.002）。患者感到来自伴侣的进食压力比他们估计的更大（P = 0.007）。
男性癌症患者的厌食/恶病质会影响家庭烹饪、夫妻的日常饮食习惯及其配偶关系。识别ERD可能会引发有针对性的心理社会干预措施。
