Background/Rationale
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers significantly affect diet and nutrition for patients and their carers. Tumour location often causes pain, dysphagia and weight loss, while treatment side effects such as mucositis, nausea and diarrhoea further compromise nutritional intake. Malnutrition affects up to 80% of patients. Understanding these challenges is critical to developing effective dietary support. This study aimed to explore the dietary issues experienced by people affected by upper GI cancer in Australia, to inform resource development.
Methods
A mixed-methods design was used, including: a case note audit involving patients and carers (n=40), clinician focus group (n=7), patient and carer interview (n=10), online specialist nurse survey (n=160), and online dietician survey.
Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data analysis, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data. Eighteen emergent dietary themes were defined and prioritised with input from a multidisciplinary advisory group to guide resource development.
Impact on Practice
This is one of few comprehensive investigations into dietary issues among people affected by upper GI cancer in Australia. The inclusion of multiple data sources enabled identification and prioritisation of key nutrition-related concerns. Findings informed the development of resources to address unmet dietary needs in this community.
Discussion
Eighteen dietary themes were identified from the case note audit and explored further through clinician and consumer input. Results guided the development of practical, resources—such as factsheets, webinars, animations and videos—accessible to both consumers and clinicians. Emphasis was placed on low cost, home-based dietary strategies suitable for diverse populations across Australia, with consideration given to priority populations in both content and design.