Patient perspectives on dietitians’ role in nutrition management among cancer patients: Implications for proactive care and communication

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine patients’ perspectives regarding the role of dietitians in nutrition management. Methods: This study was conducted at our hospital’s oncology outpatient clinics. It used a questionnaire previously reported in the literature. One hundred sixty-two adult volunteers were included in this study. Patients’ knowledge of nutritional information, preferences for nutrition care, and perspectives on the dietitian’s role were measured. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the continuous variables. The degree of agreement was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Nutritional care was a high priority for most volunteers (74.7%). Almost half of the patients expressed a need for dietitians to address their dietary challenges proactively. Most patients (64.2%) first met with a dietitian during ongoing treatment. They emphasized the need for frequent meetings and were willing to be referred to a dietitian earlier in their treatment. Conclusions: Most patients are referred to a dietitian after malnutrition, indicating the need for earlier intervention. Patients strongly desire improved communication among the healthcare team members regarding their nutritional concerns. Proactive nutritional management can reduce the incidence of malnutrition and enhance patient outcomes.