'It's not a solution to keep telling me to lose weight!' Exploring endometrial cancer survivors' experiences of nutrition and well-being advice: A qualitative study.

Abstract

Aims: The aim was to explore Endometrial cancer (EC) survivors' experiences of being offered nutrition and well-being advice.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at two tertiary centres in Aotearoa New Zealand. Semi-structured conversations with people who had completed treatment for EC in the past 12 months were undertaken to explore how they were offered nutrition and well-being advice as part of standard follow-up care. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Fifteen people of Pacific, Māori and European ethnicity participated. Five themes were derived: (i) isolation and vulnerability, (ii) importance of language, (iii) inconsistent availability and relevance of nutrition and well-being information, (iv) competing priorities and influences and (v) holistic and culturally responsive support. People often experienced judgement associated with their weight as part of their care, with limited understanding of their lived realities. Nutrition and well-being advice was not widely available or accessible, and people had to explicitly ask for it. Social and environmental factors were barriers to making changes to health behaviours. A need for culturally safe holistic care was identified.

Conclusion: Enhancing survivorship after EC is ultimately premised on providing culturally safe and responsive care. Expanding workforce training in communication around high weight as well as education and self-assessment of cultural safety could enable aspects of this. A holistic care program could facilitate wider access to nutrition and well-being advice and better meet the needs of this population.