Benna-Doyle Sarah, Kiss Nicole, Laing Erin, Loeliger Jenelle, Baguley Brenton J
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
Support Care Cancer. 2025 Jul 21;33(8):709. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09739-5.
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.
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.
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%).
The perceived importance of malnutrition and sarcopenia in ovarian cancer varies according to professional discipline despite robust evidence of the importance to clinical outcomes.
由于卵巢癌晚期诊断和治疗毒性，卵巢癌女性患者面临营养不良和肌肉流失的高风险。循证指南建议筛查营养不良和肌肉减少症，以预防包括生存时间缩短在内的相关不良后果。本研究旨在描述澳大利亚医疗保健专业人员对卵巢癌营养相关问题的认知、看法及实践情况。
于2023年11月至2024年3月期间完成了一项全国性调查。这项包含24个条目的调查评估了对营养相关问题的认知和看法、在特定时间点（从诊断时、治疗期间和/或治疗后）对营养不良和肌肉减少症的筛查及转诊实践，以及卵巢癌营养护理的障碍。
参与调查的专业人员（n = 57）主要是护士（39%）、营养师（23%）或外科医生（19%）。诊断时报告最多的营养相关问题是体重减轻（67%）、超重/肥胖（54%）和肌肉减少症（44%）。治疗期间，体重减轻（70%）和肌肉减少症（65%）较为突出，而治疗后，体重增加（46%）和肌肉减少症（39%）报告最多。营养不良和肌肉减少症的临床重要性认知因专业领域而异。专业人员认为化疗是营养风险最高的治疗方法（97%），75%的人报告在治疗期间观察到患者自行进行饮食改变，但18%的人表示其医疗服务机构未筛查营养风险，58%的人未筛查肌肉减少症。主要障碍包括缺乏肌肉减少症筛查的既定流程（75%）、饮食服务有限（60%）以及缺乏特定的转诊途径（58%）。
尽管有充分证据表明营养不良和肌肉减少症对临床结局很重要，但卵巢癌患者中对其重要性的认知因专业领域而异。
