443P - The effectiveness of individual nutritional counselling for patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A preliminary study

Background

Many patients with advanced cancer have difficulty eating and need nutritional support. This preliminary study examined the effects of individual nutritional counselling sessions on quality of life (QOL), nutritional status and eating-related distress (ERD) among patients with advanced cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods

A survey was conducted in the outpatient chemotherapy center at a university hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Patients were offered individual nutritional counselling by a dietitian specializing in cancer. For the participants who completed at least two counselling sessions, we evaluated changes in their QOL (EORTC-QLQ C30), symptoms and nutritional status (PG-SGA SF) and ERD. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test to compare mean differences. The ethics committee approved the study (Ethical Review No. M2015-578).

Results

Of 42 patients who applied for nutritional counselling, 8 underwent two sessions. The mean age was 70.6 ± 5.9 years and females accounted for 25.0%. Primary diseases were gastrointestinal cancer (n = 6) and lung cancer (n = 2). “Although family members and friends recommend foods to me, I am just confused” on the ERD and “fatigue” on the EORTC-QLQ C30 significantly improved (p < 0.05, respectively). There were no significant differences in the other items of the EORTC-QLQ C30 or symptoms and nutritional status on the PG-SGA SF. In total, 34 patients did not receive nutritional counselling twice because of death, changing hospitals, disease progression, or lack of coordination among researchers.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that individual nutritional counselling is slightly beneficial for patients with advanced cancer receiving chemotherapy. Further research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this intervention in the future.

Clinical trial identification

UMIN registration No. UMIN000021540; was carried out prior to the start of the study.

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

Funding

Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation.

Disclosure

S. Koshimoto: Research grant / Funding (institution): Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.