Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2021

How do we improve nutrition care and information for cancer patients? Exploration of patient, carer and health professional access, perceptions and practices: a mixed-methods study. (#147)

Jenelle Loeliger 1 , Rebecca McIntosh 1 , Vanessa Hughes 1 , Jane Stewart 1 , Alexis Butler 1 , Samantha Chandler 2 , Keith Donohoe 2 , Andrea Elliott 3 , Tanith Lamaro 4 , Kate Kaegi 5 , Helana Kelly 1 , Nicole Kiss 6 , Katherine Lane 7 , Kathy Quade 8 , Liz Simkiss 9 , Natalie Simmance 10 , Wendy Swan 11 , Tania Wohling 9 , Jill Francis 1 12
  1. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, VIC, Australia
  2. Consumer representative, Melbourne
  3. Eastern Health, Box Hill
  4. Access Health & Community Health, Hawthorn
  5. Austin Health, Heidelberg
  6. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Burwood
  7. Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne
  8. Western Central Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Services, Melbourne
  9. Victorian Government, Melbourne
  10. St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
  11. Goulburn Valley Health, Shepparton
  12. School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville

Aims:

Gaps in nutrition information and care provision to cancer patients may lead to poor outcomes. This study aims to develop an understanding of (1) patient/carer access and perceptions and (2) health professional (HP) views and practices, relating to cancer nutrition information and care.

Methods:  

Patients/carers with a cancer diagnosis in the previous five years, recruited through Victorian health services and cancer consumer networks, completed a study-specific online consumer survey. Teams of 4-7 multidisciplinary cancer HP’s from seven health services were formed and invited to participate in (1) a study-specific online HP survey and (2) a team key informant interview. Key informant interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.

Results:

Of 104 consumer survey respondents (n=97 patients, n=7 carers), 61% agreed that it ‘took too much time to find evidence-based nutrition and cancer information’ and 46% saw a dietitian. Greatest barriers to accessing nutrition care were ‘I did not know I could’, ‘I was not offered’, ‘I do not understand the different services available’. Thirty-four of thirty-eight HP's (89% response rate) from seven different hospital, community and primary care settings, completed the HP survey and 30 of these HP participated in a team key informant interview. Communication about nutrition care and referrals from hospital into primary care were reported to be poor. Confidence was rated low in identifying appropriate post treatment nutrition services for patients. Greatest barriers to delivering nutrition care were lack of referral services, knowledge/skill gap to identify nutrition issues or provide care, and time to identify nutrition and referral issues.

Conclusions:

This study has provided insights into gaps in access and support for cancer nutrition information and care for patients/carers. Findings will inform the design of interactive cancer nutrition resources and strategies for implementation of evidence-based nutrition care and information into cancer care across multiple health settings.