Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia; Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia; Allied Health Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.
Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2022 Jun;49:466-473. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.02.124. Epub 2022 Mar 4.
Patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are at nutritional risk due to symptoms and treatment side-effects. Current evidence-based guidelines lack information regarding optimal nutritional management. This study aimed to describe health professional knowledge and management of nutrition complications in GEP NET patients and summarise current international practice.
Multidisciplinary health professionals who regularly provide care for NET patients, were invited to participate in a 21-item online survey. Survey questions asked about symptom prevalence, nutrition screening, assessment practices, and vitamin deficiency screening and supplementation practices. General demographic information was recorded.
In total 73 health professionals completed the survey. Many worked in Australia (52%) and the United Kingdom (19%). Most responses were provided by medical oncologists (25%), nurses (23%) and dietitians (30%). Diarrhoea and fatigue were reported as the most common symptoms (86% and 60%, respectively) and of greatest concern to patients with NET (80% and 52%, respectively). Provision of advice for symptom management, weight loss and food intolerances was reported by 92%, 59% and 41%, respectively. Overall, 38% carried out screening/assessment for malnutrition and screening for vitamin deficiencies, respectively. Health professionals reported on the lack of NET-specific nutrition guidelines and hence used general oncology nutrition guidelines to direct their practice.
This is the first international survey of nutrition knowledge and practices among NET health professionals. Results highlight variations in nutrition screening and assessment practices and identify a gap in NET-specific guidelines addressing nutrition issues in this at-risk patient group.
神经内分泌肿瘤（NET）患者由于症状和治疗副作用，存在营养风险。目前基于证据的指南缺乏关于最佳营养管理的信息。本研究旨在描述胃肠道胰腺神经内分泌肿瘤患者的卫生专业人员对营养并发症的知识和管理，并总结当前国际实践。
定期为 NET 患者提供护理的多学科卫生专业人员被邀请参与一项包含 21 个问题的在线调查。调查问题涉及症状流行率、营养筛查、评估实践、以及维生素缺乏筛查和补充实践。记录了一般人口统计学信息。
共有 73 名卫生专业人员完成了调查。他们中的许多人在澳大利亚（52%）和英国（19%）工作。大多数答复来自医学肿瘤学家（25%）、护士（23%）和营养师（30%）。腹泻和疲劳被报告为最常见的症状（分别为 86%和 60%），也是 NET 患者最关心的问题（分别为 80%和 52%）。92%、59%和 41%分别提供了有关症状管理、体重减轻和食物不耐受的建议。总体而言，分别有 38%的人进行了营养不良筛查/评估和维生素缺乏筛查。卫生专业人员报告缺乏 NET 特异性营养指南，因此使用一般肿瘤营养指南来指导他们的实践。
这是首次对 NET 卫生专业人员的营养知识和实践进行的国际调查。结果强调了营养筛查和评估实践的差异，并确定了针对这一高危患者群体的 NET 特异性指南中存在的营养问题的差距。
