Malnutrition is common among patients with cancer for many reasons(Reference Mattox1) and is associated with reduced quality of life, lower activity level, increased treatment-related adverse reactions, reduced tumour response to treatment and reduced survival(Reference Arends, Bodoky and Bozzetti2). Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are recommended to help maintain or improve nutritional status in patients with cancer(Reference Arends, Bodoky and Bozzetti2) but poor compliance remains a problem(Reference McAlpine, Harper and McMurdo3). This initiative aimed to improve enthusiasm for ONS and increase nutritional awareness in patients attending an Oncology Day Unit in a Dublin teaching hospital.
In August 2006 a ‘cocktail round’ was launched in the Oncology Day Unit. All patients attending the Oncology Day Unit in the afternoon were offered a daily drink from a choice of 3 selected recipes, made up primarily of ONS (1.5 kcal/ml), fruit and energy-dense food products e.g. milk, ice-cream, lemonade. The energy content of the drinks ranged from 325 to 630 kcal. The initiative was evaluated over a one week period in December 2006 and 2007 using a patient satisfaction questionnaire.
In 2006 and 2007 the evaluation questionnaire was completed by eighteen and thirteen patients respectively. The survey demonstrated a high level of patient satisfaction with the cocktail round.
More than 60% of patients reported that they have tried or would try the recipes at home. In addition, on having tried the cocktails a number of patients requested referral to the oncology dietitian. The total number of patients surveyed was small due to a low attendance in the Oncology Day Unit at the time of the evaluation.
A nutrition cocktail round has a positive impact on the nutritional awareness and attitude to nutritional supplements of patients attending an Oncology Day Unit.
