Exploring awareness, perceptions, and practices relating to nutritional status and low muscle mass in patients with ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE

Women with ovarian cancer are at high risk of malnutrition and muscle loss due to advanced-stage diagnosis and treatment toxicities. Evidence-based guidelines recommend screening for malnutrition and sarcopenia to prevent associated adverse consequences, including reduced survival. This study aimed to describe awareness and perceptions of nutrition-related issues and practices in ovarian cancer among Australian healthcare professionals.

METHODS

A national survey was completed between November 2023 and March 2024. The 24-item survey evaluated awareness and perceptions of nutrition-related issues, screening and referral practices for malnutrition and sarcopenia at specific timepoints (from diagnosis, during, and/or post-treatment) and barriers to nutrition care in ovarian cancer.

RESULTS

Professionals (n = 57) were predominantly nurses (39%), dietitians (23%), or surgeons (19%). The most reported nutrition-related issues at diagnosis were weight loss (67%), overweight/obesity (54%), and sarcopenia (44%). During treatment, weight loss (70%) and sarcopenia (65%) were prominent, while post-treatment, weight gain (46%) and sarcopenia (39%) were most reported. The perceived clinical importance of malnutrition and sarcopenia varied according to professional discipline. Professionals identified chemotherapy as the treatment with the highest nutrition risk (97%), and 75% reported observing self-initiated dietary changes during treatment, yet 18% indicated their health services did not screen for nutrition risk, and 58% did not screen for sarcopenia. Key barriers were lack of established processes for sarcopenia screening (75%), limited dietetic services (60%), and lack of specific referral pathways (58%).

CONCLUSION

The perceived importance of malnutrition and sarcopenia in ovarian cancer varies according to professional discipline despite robust evidence of the importance to clinical outcomes.