Perceptions and experiences of nutritional management needs for patients with esophageal cancer during the peri-radiotherapy period: A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: Malnutrition in patients with esophageal cancer is a major health problem. However, the information about the perceptions and experiences of nutritional management needs during the peri-radiotherapy period is lacking. This study aimed to understand the experiences of, and perspectives on, nutritional management needs of patients with esophageal cancer, family caregivers, doctors, and nurses ​so as to explore the influencing factors and coping strategies to meet nutritional management needs for patients with esophageal cancer during the peri-radiotherapy period. METHODS: A qualitative study with purposive and theoretical sampling was used in this study. One-to-one and focus group interviews were held among patients, main family caregivers, doctors, and nurses in a tertiary general hospital and a tertiary cancer hospital in Shantou, south of China, from August to September in 2020. Data were analyzed using grounded theory by a three-level coding method. The reporting of this study adhered to the COREQ guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients, 10 main family caregivers, 6 doctors, and 9 nurses were interviewed. According to the participants, the three main categories, “personal cognition,” “family and social factors,” and “nutritional management environment and system,” were the main factors influencing nutritional management needs. “Lack of nutrition-related cognition,” “effects of feeding-related symptom clusters,” and “motivation” were the three major factors that constituted participants’ personal cognition on nutritional management. “Dietary conditions in medical institutions,” “nutritional management system in medical institutions,” and “home nutritional care” were the main components of the nutritional management environment and system. The coping strategies included standardized nutritional training for staff, patients and caregivers, social support system, discharge preparation services, multidisciplinary nutritional management, and construction of the organization and management system. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition in patients with esophageal cancer who suffer from great diet pain during the peri-radiotherapy period has become a concerning health issue. It is still challenging and needs more nutritional research. The full identification of influencing factors for nutritional management needs and the proposal of coping strategies may help provide theoretical support and a practical basis for constructing a tumor nutritional management scheme to meet the needs of patients with esophageal cancer.