Are Guideline Recommendations on Supportive Nutrition and Exercise Therapy for Cancer Patients Implemented in Clinical Routine? A National Survey with Real-Life Data
Hardt L, Herrmann HJ, Reljic D, Jaensch P, Zerth J, Neurath M, Zopf Y (2023)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2023
Journal
Book Volume: 15
Article Number: 3172
Journal Issue: 14
DOI: 10.3390/nu15143172
Abstract
Malnutrition and cancer cachexia are highly prevalent comorbidities of cancer, limiting patients’ quality of life and being relevant to prognosis. International and national clinical guidelines recommend supportive nutrition and exercise therapy for cancer patients. However, there is little current epidemiological evidence on the implementation of these guideline recommendations in clinical routine. To close this data gap, a national survey in Germany using an online questionnaire was conducted. There were 261 of a total of 5074 contacted hospitals and medical offices who participated in the survey (5.1% response rate). The data indicated that nutrition and exercise therapy for cancer patients is so far inadequately implemented, with 59% of the respondents reporting nutrition therapy as an integral part of oncological treatment, 66.7% having a nutrition specialist/team, and 65.1% routinely conducting a screening for nutritional status. Only half of the participants stated that there are defined goals in nutrition therapy. The majority of respondents (85.8%) generally recommend exercise therapy, but only a few of them provide specific offers at their own institution (19.6%) or at cooperation partners (31.7%). In order to implement the recommended combined nutrition and exercise therapy as part of regular care, there is a need for nationwide availability of multidisciplinary nutrition teams and targeted offers of individualized exercise therapy. Health policy support would be important to create the structural, financial, and staff conditions for appropriate guideline implementation in order to achieve the optimal treatment of cancer patients.
Authors with CRIS profile
Luisa Hardt
Professur für Integrative Medizin mit dem Schwerpunkt Ernährungsmedizin (Stiftungsprofessur der Hector Stiftung II gGmbH)
Dejan Reljic
Department of Medicine 1 – Gastroenterology, Pneumology and Endocrinology
Markus Neurath
Lehrstuhl für Innere Medizin I
Yurdagül Zopf
Professur für Integrative Medizin mit dem Schwerpunkt Ernährungsmedizin (Stiftungsprofessur der Hector Stiftung II gGmbH)
Involved external institutions
Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Hardt, L., Herrmann, H.J., Reljic, D., Jaensch, P., Zerth, J., Neurath, M., & Zopf, Y. (2023). Are Guideline Recommendations on Supportive Nutrition and Exercise Therapy for Cancer Patients Implemented in Clinical Routine? A National Survey with Real-Life Data. Nutrients, 15(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15143172
MLA:
Hardt, Luisa, et al. "Are Guideline Recommendations on Supportive Nutrition and Exercise Therapy for Cancer Patients Implemented in Clinical Routine? A National Survey with Real-Life Data." Nutrients 15.14 (2023).
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