Improving the Quality of Life of Cancer Patients Through a Perioperative and Coordinated Nutrition and Physical Care Program.

Summary

Hospitalization, for cancer patients, exposes to a risk of undernutrition which has the effect of significantly increasing infections, pressure ulcers, muscle wasting, loss of autonomy, impaired function and delayed healing.

All of these factors contribute to increase the length of stay in hospital, thus lengthening the spiral of undernutrition, which has serious consequences for the patient welbeing, health establishments and public health.

Undernutrition has been the subject of many studies over the last twenty years, that outline that an adequate nutritional management exerts a direct effect on the reduction of comorbidities and duration of hospitalization.

However, there are periods, in the preoperative course of care, where nutritional and phisical care are not realized in the current clinical practice whereas they could be done, for example, between the diagnosis and the consultation of anesthesia, between the anesthesia consultation and the surgical procedure and the end of hospitalization of the patient.

Current management is usually limited to the period of hospitalization which tends to be reduced. This situation is reinforced by the absence of relays at home, dietary consultations being not reimbursed by French health insurance.

Moreover, a preliminary survey, conducted in 2012 during the pre-operative outpatient anesthesia consultation, shows that 26% of patients are already clinically malnourished, with 16.5 % of them who have lost more than 10% of their weight.

Conditions

• Undernourished
• Digestive Cancer

Interventions

OTHER

Dietary advice

Nutritional status assessment Explanation of standard nutritional advices with an written explanation sheet

OTHER

Physiotherapist intervention

Respiratory capacity Functional capacity

OTHER

Dietary intervention

Nutritional status assessment Presentation of the Nutrimus booklet by the coordinating dietitian Establishment or adaptation of a nutritional support (prescription of nutritional supplements if necessary). Delivery and explanation of the preoperative nutritional counseling support

OTHER

Intensify physiotherapist intervention

Respiratory capacity Functional capacity Tips adapted for physical activity and strengthening or maintenance of muscle mass Presentation of respiratory physiotherapy exercises to prevent postoperative bronchial congestion Nutrition and physical mobilization tips with the Nutrimus booklet

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Alain PARDIGNAC · Strasbourg Universitary hospitals

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-01-29

Primary Completion

2024-04-28

Completion

2024-04-28

Countries

• France

Study Locations