Food intake and quality of life in cancer patients
1991
Holmes, S. | Dickerson, J.W.T.
Protein-energy malnutrition is of considerable importance in the clinical management of the cancer patient when it may be associated with a poor prognosis, a reduced response to therapy, an increased risk of therapeutic side-effects and a reduced quality of life (QL). This paper reports the findings of three studies designed to evaluate food intake in hospitalized cancer patients and to investigate the relationship between total food consumption and the patient's QL. The findings indicate firstly that data provided through 24 h dietary recall bear little relationship to those obtained by direct weighing. The second study shows that three-day weighed intakes provide accurate data but are time-intensive, intrusive and disruptive to normal food distribution practices. The results suggest, however, that food consumption in hospitalized cancer patients is generally inadequate and, finally, that it is closely linked to QL although no clear cause and effect relationship is demonstrated. Further research is clearly needed.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library