Evaluation of nutritional status of cancer patients attending diet polyclinic

Akren Özkazanç M. Evaluatıon of Nutrıtıonal Status of Cancer Patıents Attendıng Dıet Polyclınıc. Hacettepe University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Dietetic Program, Master's Thesis, Ankara, 2019. Cancer is a major public health problem and one of the most important causes of death in the world. Basic principles of medical nutrition treatment of cancer are prevention of malnutrition, prevention of nutritional problems associated with anti-tumor treatment, and improving the effectiveness and quality of life of medical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between nutritional education and nutritional therapy and general nutritional status, medical treatments and some biochemical markers. In the first stage of the study, patients were divided into two groups as patients who applied to the diet polyclinic for nutritional counseling (group1 n=50). and those who did not (group 2 n=50). In the second stage of the study, patients receiving nutritional therapy (group1 n=50). were followed for at least 6 weeks and the effect of nutritional therapy on nutritional habits and food consumption was evaluated. General descriptive characteristics, food consumption / feeding habits of the patients were obtained by applying a questionnaire. Malnutrition screening tool (NRS2002) and Mediterranean Diet Adaptation Scale (ADS) were applied, some anthropometric measurements were taken and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Biochemical findings were also recorded from the patient files. Nutritional status assessment / NRS2002 score of the patients was 2.00 ± 1.21 in the first week and a significant decrease of 1.46 ± 0.89 in the 6th week (p <0.01). This decrease was higher in the group receiving nutritional counseling compared to the group without nutritional counseling and was associated with a lower risk of malnutrition. The ADS score of the group receiving nutritional counseling (4.64 ± 2.13 points) increased significantly at the end of the 6th week (9.58 ± 1.60 points) compared to the score of the individuals in group2 (4.64 ± 2.13 points). (p <0.001). Nutritional counseling patients have high compliance with Mediterranean diet and high quality of diet. There was a significant relationship between ADS and creatinine (r = -0.211), albumin (r = 0.220) and white blood cells (r = -0.250) among biochemical parameters (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant change in the anthropometric measurements and BMI at the end of the follow-up (6 weeks) (p> 0.05). BMI values of the patients receiving nutritional counseling were preserved and correlated with the decrease in NRS2002 score (p <0.05). According to the results of this study, individual nutrition counseling is important in the follow-up of cancer patients. In these patients with a high risk of malnutrition, detailed assessment, monitoring of nutritional status and guiding nutritional support is one of the most effective ways to increase the effectiveness of treatment.