[Perception about the importance of feeding in a group of hematologic cancer patients]

Abstract

Introduction: Oncohematologic patients usually present nutritional deficits associated with the disease, the treatments and side effects, etc. However, there are hardly any descriptive data about the dietary recommendations used and the patient's self-perception of its usefulness in their disease.

Aim: To assess the self-perception of the nutritional importance in a group of oncohematologic patients.

Materials and methods: 111 oncohematologic patients self-reported a questionnaire containing items about socio-sanitary data and self-perception of the nutritional importance in their disease.

Results: The mean age was 40.0 ± 12.8 years (64.86% women). The most frequent diagnosis and treatment was lymphoma (83.78%) and chemotheraphy (92.80%). 75% considered "very important" relationship between oncohematologic disease and nutritional status. Only 54.1% received dietary advice. And 53.2% and 50.5% considered that the use of nutritional supplements improve quality of life and/or disease respectively.

Conclusions: A significant percentage of patients had advanced stages of their disease. However, half the group had not received dietary advice despite high interest in receiving nutritional care. Therefore, the nutritional assessment and the personalized nutritional support implementation of the patient should be included in routine clinical practice.