Determination of malnutrition status and quality of life levels of oncology patients receiving palliative care

Cancer affects patients quality of life and can cause malnutrition. This research was planned to examine the effect of palliative care on the nutritional status and quality of life of cancer patients. The study was conducted with 28 male and 26 female cancer patients who applied to Ankara Bilkent City Hospital Palliative Care Center and met the inclusion criteria. A survey form, including demographic characteristics, general information, nutritional habits, malnutrition status and quality of life measurement, was applied to the patients by face-toface interview method. Malnutrition statuses were determined by the Nutritional Risk Score (NRS-2002) and the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria. Quality of life was evaluated with the KATZ daily living activities and functional evaluation of chronic diseases treatment palliative care scale (FACIT-Pal). Anthropometric measurements were taken by the researcher. Routine biochemical parameters were analyzed by taking blood samples from cancer patients in the morning on an empty stomach. The average age of cancer patients was found to be 65.2±13.4 years. The most common cancer type was found to be stomach cancer in %24.1 of the patients, prostate, colon and bladder cancer in %13, and lung and breast cancer in %11.1. It was determined that prostate cancer was the most common in male patients with %21.4, and breast cancer was the most common in women with %23.1, and a significant difference was found between cancer type and gender. (p<0.05). The average BMI values of the patients, evaluated twice within fifteen days (start first hospitalization, discharge 15th day), were found to be similar in men and women, and no significant difference was found (p>0.05). Malnutrition risk changes according to NRS-2002 and GLIM criteria, which were evaluated repeatedly during the fifteen-day period during which the patients stayed in the palliative care center, were found to be significant in the total patient group (p<0.05). According to the KATZ scale, %78.6 of male patients were independent, while this frequency was found to be %65.4 in females. %26.9 of women and %10.7 of men are semi-dependent; It was determined that %10.7 of men and %7.7of women were addicted. According to KATZ classification, the difference between genders was not statistically significant (p>0.05). According to the FACIT-Pal quality of life scale, it was determined that %64.3 of male patients and %57.7 of female patients had high quality of life. The frequency of male patients classified as having low quality of life was %35.7, and the frequency of female patients was %42.3, and the difference between genders was not found to be statistically significant (p>0.05). Cancer patients may experience nutritional disorders during treatment. For this reason, from the moment of diagnosis, necessary precautions should be taken to prevent malnutrition and individualized nutritional support plans should be made and followed and quality of life levels should be increased. Keywords: cancer, malnutrition, quality of life, palliative care