Background
Patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are at nutritional risk due to symptoms and side-effects of treatment. Current evidence based guidelines lack information regarding optimal nutritional management and supportive care. This study aims to describe current knowledge and management of nutrition complications in NET patients.
Methods
Health professionals regularly managing NET patients were invited by email to participate in a 21-item online survey. Demographic information was recorded and included country of work, profession and length of time working with NET patients. Questions asked about symptom prevalence, their impact in NET patients, and nutrition screening and assessment practices. Preliminary results were summarized.
Results
Of the 61 health professionals who completed the survey, 36 (59%) worked in Australia and 13 (21%) worked in the United Kingdom. Professions represented included medical oncologists (28%), nurses (25%) and dietitians (23%). Fifty percent reported managing NET patients for more than 7 years. Diarrhoea and fatigue were reported as the most common and of concern symptoms amongst NET patients. Provision of advice on symptom management, weight loss and food intolerances was reported by 90%, 52% and 34% respectively. Screening for malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies was reported by 34% and 36% respectively. Barriers to screening included limited knowledge of appropriate screening practices, and belief the role of screening aligned with another profession.
Conclusion
Reported symptom prevalence and burden appears to align with published patient reported data. There is variation is reported methods of malnutrition screening and assessment, and management of symptoms is more common practice than malnutrition or vitamin screening among NET health professionals. This is the first summary of the nutrition practices of NET health professionals. Further research is required to guide optimal nutrition screening practices and contribute to the development of nutrition guidelines for NET patients.