Optimizing nutritional support: A quality improvement project for cancer patients undergoing anti-cancer treatment at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Qatar

Abstract

Background

Cancer patients often suffer from malnutrition related symptoms which can greatly affect their health and treatment outcomes. A screening pilot study was conducted, involving the random selection of 100 patients with specific cancer types at Day Care Unit (DCU). Risk of malnutrition was evaluated using the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), with scores of 2 and above indicating risk of malnutrition. The study found that over 85% of the patients were at high risk of malnutrition, emphasizing the necessity for intervention. To tackle this problem, a quality improvement was launched at DCU at National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) in Qatar.

Aim

The aim of this project is to optimize the nutritional status of patients at risk of malnutrition who are receiving anti-cancer treatment at DCU by appropriate screening, assessment and interventions using the standardized MST by the end of June 2023.

Methods

A quality project was launched and 102 patients diagnosed with specific types of cancer and MST scores of 2 and higher were enrolled. These patients underwent personalized dietary assessments, received nutritional counselling and were provided with customized dietary plans and supplements tailored to their requirements. The effectiveness of these interventions was evaluated at 3 points: baseline, the 4^th week, and 8^th week.

Results

The outcomes of this project were encouraging. Out of 102 patients, 68% displayed notable enhancement in nutrition (P=0.001), evidenced by MST scores below 2 during the 4^th week follow-up assessment. This improvement persisted into the 8^th week, with 67% of patients still showing progress (P=0.001) indicated by MST scores below 2. Importantly, there were no significant differences in outcomes based on age or gender.

Conclusion

The project shows the impact of interventions on enhancing the nutritional well-being of cancer patients. It stresses the significance of nutrition screening and timely intervention, and the necessity for proper referral procedures to connect patients with dietitians within the DCU.