The Viewpoints of Hospitalized Patients with Cancer Regarding Their Nutritional Challenges in Hospital: A Phenomenological Study

Masoumeh Jabbari; Tahereh Alsadat  Khoubbin Khoshnazar; Arezoo Haghighian-Roudsari; Farzad Taghizadeh-Hesary; Ali Milani-Bonab

doi:10.18502/jnfs.v7i4.11052

Masoumeh Jabbari Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Tahereh Alsadat Khoubbin Khoshnazar Nursing Care Research Center, School of nursing and midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Arezoo Haghighian-Roudsari Department of Community Nutrition, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Farzad Taghizadeh-Hesary Department of Clinical Oncology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ali Milani-Bonab Food and Nutrition Policy and Planning Research Department, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jnfs.v7i4.11052

Keywords: Cancer; Hospitalized patient; Nutrition; Phenomenology

Abstract

Background: Complications of anti-cancer therapies can lead to inadequate nutrient intake, indigestion and deficiency of nutrients. The present study aims to better understand the nutritional challenges of hospitalized patients with cancer.

Methods: The participants were patients referred to the oncology ward of the hospital who were selected by the maximum diversity sampling of patients with various cancers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data and continued until data saturation with 20 participants. Inductive content analysis was applied to interpret data using MAXQDA 2018 software.

Results: The views of hospitalized patients with cancer regarding the nutritional complications were explored in four main themes, including "Inefficiency in patient food management”, “The need for care and support of the treatment team”, “Problems due to the consequences of the disease”, “Patients' strategies in conditions of dissatisfaction with the hospital food environment”. The sub-themes included "Dissatisfaction with the hospital food environment”, “Neglect of patients' specific conditions”, “Problem with the characteristics of hospital food”, “Uncertainty of the responsible person/people”, “Lack of continuous communication between the treatment team and patients”, “Patients’ need to consult with the treatment team”, “Patients’ concerns”, “Disease side-effects”, “Chemotherapy side effect”, and “Dissatisfaction of food and environment".

Conclusion: It is necessary to obtain a comprehensive understanding of patients' needs by a treatment team, including physicians, nurses, and nutritionists by establishing appropriate communication with the patients and nutrition education from the time of diagnosis and treatment.