Background:
People with cancer place great importance on diet as a part of their cancer management. However, some studies point to gaps between patient expectations of dietary information wanted versus received. It is unknown whether the dietetic support provided at our regional hospital cancer care unit currently meets the needs of patients with cancer. This study aims to identify the key nutrition needs of patients with cancer, including their satisfaction with dietetic information, the type of information they seek, and their preferences regarding its format, timing, and delivery setting.
Methods
To date seven interviews have been completed with eligible patients with a researcher. To be eligible for this study, medical oncology patients at our health service had to have had completed at least three appointments with the cancer care dietitian. Convenience sampling was utilised to recruit patients. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and reflexive thematic analysis was utilised to identify themes in collected information.
Results
Preliminary thematic analysis has identified five themes: 1) consultations with dietitians were valuable, 2) consultations occurred too late in their treatment journey, 3) appointments completed concurrently with oncology treatment were preferred, 4) patients felt the information met their needs, 5) written information was favoured.
Conclusion
Patients found dietetic support beneficial, but this study highlights that dietetic intervention can often come late. These results also highlight where dietetic service delivery can be improved at our service through the format of appointments and the resources provided. Making these changes to our dietetic service delivery may better meet patient needs and have a positive impact.