Area of Nursing Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 1-7 Yamadaoka Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2010 Feb;14(1):3-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2009.07.004. Epub 2009 Sep 5.
The relationship between radiation treatment and adverse effects resulting in changes in appetite was studied in patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer.
Path analysis was used to evaluate the following factors in 117 patients receiving radiation therapy for H&N cancer: daily fluctuations in saliva production, analgesic use, frequency of oral care, subject characteristics, and appetite.
At 20 Gy of radiation, appetite was affected by Brinkman index value, age, and sensitivity to taste (R2=0.48, p<0.001); at 30 Gy of radiation, appetite was affected by frequency of oral care, xerostomia symptoms, age, sensitivity to taste, and oral mucositis (R2=0.52, p<0.001); and at 50 Gy of radiation, appetite was affected by low saliva production in the morning, frequency of oral care, xerostomia symptoms, sensitivity to taste, analgesic use, and oral mucositis (R2=0.62, p<0.001).
The results of this study suggest that care taken to avoid a decrease in appetite due to adverse effects of radiation therapy should differ according to the dosage and schedule of radiation therapy. These findings represent important data for health care professionals to understand and support appropriate dietary intake and improved quality of life for H&N cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.
研究头颈部（H&N）癌症患者放射治疗与导致食欲变化的不良反应之间的关系。
采用路径分析评估 117 例接受 H&N 癌症放射治疗患者的以下因素：唾液产生的日常波动、镇痛药使用、口腔护理频率、受试者特征和食欲。
在 20Gy 放射治疗时，食欲受布兰金指数值、年龄和味觉敏感度的影响（R2=0.48，p<0.001）；在 30Gy 放射治疗时，食欲受口腔护理频率、口干症状、年龄、味觉敏感度和口腔粘膜炎的影响（R2=0.52，p<0.001）；在 50Gy 放射治疗时，食欲受早晨唾液产生量低、口腔护理频率、口干症状、味觉敏感度、镇痛药使用和口腔粘膜炎的影响（R2=0.62，p<0.001）。
本研究结果表明，为避免因放射治疗的不良反应而导致的食欲下降，应根据放射治疗的剂量和方案采取不同的护理措施。这些发现为医疗保健专业人员提供了重要数据，以了解和支持接受放射治疗的 H&N 癌症患者的适当饮食摄入和提高生活质量。
