Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T09:19:08.909Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Increasing nutritional support for patients undergoing radiation therapy: the radiation therapist perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2010

Shane E. Dempsey ,
Naomi Findlay  and
Lesley MacDonald-Wicks
Shane E. Dempsey
Affiliation:
Radiation Therapy, School of Health Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW, Australia
Naomi Findlay*
Affiliation:
Radiation Therapy, School of Health Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW, Australia
Lesley MacDonald-Wicks
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW, Australia
*
Correspondence to: Naomi Findlay, School of Health Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW, Australia 2308. E-mail: Naomi.Findlay@newcastle.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine radiation therapists’ knowledge on the nutritional management of side effects for patients receiving treatment to the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system and to determine the willingness of radiation therapists’ to participate in nutritional training.

Method: A cross-sectional survey at a Radiation Oncology Treatment Centre was performed coupled with a semi-structured interview to explore radiation therapists’ knowledge and experiences related to patient nutritional care.

Results: Eighty-one percent of participants agreed that they were often asked by patients for advice on eating. The majority of participants recognised that providing adequate nutrition support would be beneficial in terms of patient outcomes (91%) and ongoing patient compliance with nutrition advice (81%). However, participants demonstrated low confidence in providing nutrition support. Eighty-six percent of radiation therapists had not received any training on nutritional interventions and 100% of radiation therapists were interested in receiving more training.

Conclusion: This research indicates that radiations therapists are often asked for nutritional advice by patients and recognise the associated benefits but are not confident in providing advice. Our findings reveal an opportunity for radiation therapists to provide scripted nutrition advice to patients to reinforce recommendations made by dietitian.

Keywords

Radiation therapynutritional managementside effectsrole expansion
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , September 2011 , pp. 181 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) & Australasian Association of Cancer Registries, Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2008. Cancer series no. 46. Cat. no. CAN 42. 2008, AIHW: Canberra.Google Scholar
Stack, KM, Papas, AS. Xerostomia: etiology and clinical management. Nutr Clin Care 2001; 4:15–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ravasco, P. Aspects of taste and compliance in patients with cancer. Eur J Oncol Nurs 2005; 9(Suppl 2):S84–S91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, BA, Gilbert, J. Dysphagia in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation: assessment, sequelae, and rehabilitation. Semin Radiat Oncol 2009; 19:35–42.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Trotti, A, Bellm, LA, Epstein, JB, Frame, D, Fuchs, HJ, Gwede, CK, Komaroff, E, Nalysnyk, L, Zilberberg, MD. Mucositis incidence, severity and associated outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy: a systematic literature review. Radiother Oncol 2003; 66:253–262.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lenhard, R, Osteen, R, Gansler, T. The American Cancer Society’s Clinical Oncology. Atlanta: The American Cancer Society, 2001.Google Scholar
Isenring, EA, Capra, S, Bauer, JD. Nutrition intervention is beneficial in oncology outpatients receiving radiotherapy to the gastrointestinal or head and neck area. Br J Cancer 2004; 91:447–452.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gosselin, T, Gilliard, L, Tinnen, R. Assessing the need for a dietitian in radiation oncology. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2008; 12:781–787.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Piquet, MA, Ozsahin, M, Larpin, I, Zouhair, A, Coti, P, Monney, M, Monnier, P, Mirimanoff, RO, Roulet, M. Early nutritional intervention in oropharyngeal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Support Care Cancer 2002; 10:502–504.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Capra, S, Ferguson, M, Ried, K. Cancer: impact of nutrition intervention outcome–nutrition issues for patients. Nutrition 2001; 17:769–772.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dietitians Association of Australia. Evidence based practice guidelines for the nutritional management of patients receiving radiation therapy. Nutr Diet 2008;65(Suppl 1): 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammond, K. Assessment: dietary and clinical data, in Krause’s food and nutrition therapy. In: Mahon, KL, and Escott-Stump, S. (eds). Saunders Elsevier: St. Louis, 2008, pp. 383–406.Google Scholar
Ravasco, P, Monteiro-Grillo, I, Vidal, PM, Camilo, ME. Dietary counseling improves patient outcomes: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23:1431–1438.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dawson, ER, Morley, SE, Robertson, AG, Soutar, DS. Increasing dietary supervision can reduce weight loss in oral cancer patients. Nutr Cancer 2001; 41:70–74.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baume, P. A vision for radiotherapy: report of the radiation oncology inquiry. Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra, 2002.Google Scholar
Halkett, G. K., Kristjanson, L. J.. Patients perspectives on the role of radiation therapists. Patient Educ Counsel 2007; 69:76–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Long, L. Being Informed: Undergoing Radiation Therapy. Cancer Nurs 2001; 24:463–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gamble, K. Communication and information: the experience of radiotherapy patients. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 1998; 7:153–161.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed