En prospektiv kartlegging av risiko for underernæring blant pasienter som får strålebehandling mot endetarms og analkreft

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to illustrate if the survey of nutritional risk and efforts against malnutrition is feasible during radiotherapy in the departemment of Oncology patients with rectal and anal cancer. Subjects and methods This descriptive prospective study included all patients who went to curative radiotherapy against Colorectal cancer (CRC) at the Cancer Center, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål during a 5 month. The inclusion began the 1. of May and lasted until the end of September 2009 with a four-week break in between. In total 24 patients were included in the project. 22 patients had rectum cancer and two anal cancer. There were 14 (58%) male and 10 (42%) female patients who participated in the project. A modified version of screenings instrument NRS-2002 was used to assess patients' nutritional status. Modification consisted of the original question in the primary screening, "Is the patient severely ill?", replaced with a question if whether the patient had stress metabolism. Secondary screening was also modified by including questions about symptoms that impede food intake and planned treatment. The intervention of the study took place three times: first in the baseline (1-week), then midway (2.5 weeks) and finally at the end of the treatment (5-week). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 16.0. In this study, descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and present the development of nutritional risk over time, while the analytical statistics were used to see if there was no change over time. Results The result of the master study shows that the method is suitable to detect changes in nutritional risk. Moreover, the study shows that a systematic screening and subsequent monitoring of nutritional status in a group of patients who receive radiation therapy against colorectal cancer in terms of time is feasible. The management and staff intrest in holding the relation to the implementation of such a survey and follow-up of patients plays a major role