Nutrition Assessment and Counseling in Integrative Cancer Care: Effects on Patient Self-Reported Symptoms.

BACKGROUND

Nutrition guidance can affect treatment and survival outcomes for patients with cancer. The effect of a single nutrition consult on patient-reported outcomes is not well known. This study describes characteristics of patients referred for a single outpatient nutrition consult in an integrative oncology center at a cancer hospital, examining effects on self-reported symptoms.

METHODS

We completed a retrospective chart review of 1517 adult oncology patients who completed a single nutrition consult. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and reasons for referral were extracted. Modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (mESAS) and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS10) scores were collected. Standard descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used.

RESULTS

Most patients were white, women, overweight/obese with breast cancer and non-advanced disease, mean age 55.3 years. Primary reasons for referral were "lifestyle change," "overweight weight-related," and "nutrition knowledge deficit." PROMIS10 results were average. Other than sleep and hot flashes, mESAS symptom scores at baseline were in the mild range. All change scores after nutrition consult were statistically but not clinically significant.

CONCLUSION

Patients presenting for nutrition counseling had a mild symptom burden at baseline and experienced statistically, not clinically, significant improvement in self-reported symptoms following a single visit. Additional research is needed to explore strategies to enhance the intervention and understand the effects of multiple follow-up sessions.