The Effect of a Home-delivered Protein-rich Meal Service on Quality of Life in Oncological Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Cancer care research online Vol. 3; no. 1; p. e038
• Main Authors: IJmker-Hemink, Vera E., Kooijman, Nina, Kamm, Yvonne J. L., Koornstra, Rutger H. T., Timmer-Bonte, Johanna N. H., Wanten, Geert J. A., van den Berg, Manon G. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 23.01.2023
• ISSN: 2691-3623; 2691-3623
• DOI: 10.1097/CR9.0000000000000038

Background: Patients undergoing oncological treatment may experience a variety of symptoms that interfere with their ability to eat and enjoy meals. This compromises their nutritional status and impairs quality of life (QOL). Objective: Compare a home-delivered protein-rich service as a therapeutic measure to patients undergoing chemotherapy with usual care. Methods: Randomized clinical trial enrolling patients (n = 148) receiving chemotherapy. The intervention group received 6 protein-rich dishes per day for 3 weeks, the control group maintained their usual diet. QOL, energy and protein intake, nutritional and functional status, physical performance, symptom burden, and caregiver QOL were assessed. Results: No difference in QOL was found between the groups but QOL in the gastrointestinal and gynecological tumor groups increased by 8.4 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-15.8; P < .05) after the intervention, while scores in other tumor groups did not change. Significant effects were observed in energy intake (21%; 95% CI 10.4-32.1) and Short Physical Performance Battery (0.28; 95% CI 0.2-0.8) in the intervention group. Conclusions: In patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, a home-delivered protein-rich meal service did not improve QOL for the total group but QOL significantly improved in the subpopulation with abdominal cancer. Implications for Practice: Future research should focus on vulnerable patients with a high risk for malnutrition and symptoms, such as gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies, considering the beneficial results in this subgroup. Foundational: A home-delivered protein-rich meal service is feasible in patients with cancer while undergoing chemotherapy. QOL increased in gastrointestinal and gynecological cancer patients receiving this meal service.