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Health professionals’ attitudes toward the detection and management of cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome, and a proposal for standardized assessment
Background The identification and management of patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) can be a challenge despite recent international consensus on the definition of the condition.
Objectives To describe the current views and practice patterns of community oncologists and oncology nurses in regard to CACS and to propose a standardized, pragmatic assessment of CACS for oncological practice.
Methods and materials Responses from 151 community oncologists and nurses obtained across 5 surveys were analyzed. Questions addressed CACS in general and in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Surveys 1-3 were directed at physicians, and surveys 4 and 5 were directed at nurses. Surveys 1, 2, 4, and 5 focused on the recognition and monitoring of CACS, and Survey 3 on symptom management.
Results 67% of medical oncologists in Survey 3 selected weight loss as the most important criterion for diagnosing CACS and cited declining appetite and performance status (PS) as the most bothersome effects for patients and families. Weight maintenance/gain was the primary treatment objective for oncologists. Respondents to surveys 1 and 2 acknowledged the risk for CACS is high (60%) in NSCLC but considered the risk much lower (4%) in patients completing a first course of therapy with good PS. 91% of oncologists in Survey 3 reported that symptoms that had an impact on calorie intake were important/very important, and 73% were willing to consider a symptom assessment instrument that included appetite. Nurses in surveys 4 and 5 reported weight loss and appetite were most commonly used to identify cachexia. They considered responsibility for the initial assessment of cachexia was the oncologist’s (32%), followed by the nurse practitioner (28%), and the nurse (16%).
Conclusion Most oncologists and nurses recognize the core criteria for the CACS, although there may be under-recognition of the condition’s prevalence, particularly earlier in the course of treatment. There is considerable interest in adopting a brief assessment tool for screening, management, and referral of patient who are affected by or at-risk of CACS.
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Issue
The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology - 13(5)
Page Number
181-187
Legacy Keywords
cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome, CACS, non-small-cell lung cancer, NSCLC, symptom management
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Background The identification and management of patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) can be a challenge despite recent international consensus on the definition of the condition.
Objectives To describe the current views and practice patterns of community oncologists and oncology nurses in regard to CACS and to propose a standardized, pragmatic assessment of CACS for oncological practice.
Methods and materials Responses from 151 community oncologists and nurses obtained across 5 surveys were analyzed. Questions addressed CACS in general and in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Surveys 1-3 were directed at physicians, and surveys 4 and 5 were directed at nurses. Surveys 1, 2, 4, and 5 focused on the recognition and monitoring of CACS, and Survey 3 on symptom management.
Results 67% of medical oncologists in Survey 3 selected weight loss as the most important criterion for diagnosing CACS and cited declining appetite and performance status (PS) as the most bothersome effects for patients and families. Weight maintenance/gain was the primary treatment objective for oncologists. Respondents to surveys 1 and 2 acknowledged the risk for CACS is high (60%) in NSCLC but considered the risk much lower (4%) in patients completing a first course of therapy with good PS. 91% of oncologists in Survey 3 reported that symptoms that had an impact on calorie intake were important/very important, and 73% were willing to consider a symptom assessment instrument that included appetite. Nurses in surveys 4 and 5 reported weight loss and appetite were most commonly used to identify cachexia. They considered responsibility for the initial assessment of cachexia was the oncologist’s (32%), followed by the nurse practitioner (28%), and the nurse (16%).
Conclusion Most oncologists and nurses recognize the core criteria for the CACS, although there may be under-recognition of the condition’s prevalence, particularly earlier in the course of treatment. There is considerable interest in adopting a brief assessment tool for screening, management, and referral of patient who are affected by or at-risk of CACS.
Supplemental material
Click on the PDF icon at the top of this introduction to read the full article.
Background The identification and management of patients with cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) can be a challenge despite recent international consensus on the definition of the condition.
Objectives To describe the current views and practice patterns of community oncologists and oncology nurses in regard to CACS and to propose a standardized, pragmatic assessment of CACS for oncological practice.
Methods and materials Responses from 151 community oncologists and nurses obtained across 5 surveys were analyzed. Questions addressed CACS in general and in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Surveys 1-3 were directed at physicians, and surveys 4 and 5 were directed at nurses. Surveys 1, 2, 4, and 5 focused on the recognition and monitoring of CACS, and Survey 3 on symptom management.
Results 67% of medical oncologists in Survey 3 selected weight loss as the most important criterion for diagnosing CACS and cited declining appetite and performance status (PS) as the most bothersome effects for patients and families. Weight maintenance/gain was the primary treatment objective for oncologists. Respondents to surveys 1 and 2 acknowledged the risk for CACS is high (60%) in NSCLC but considered the risk much lower (4%) in patients completing a first course of therapy with good PS. 91% of oncologists in Survey 3 reported that symptoms that had an impact on calorie intake were important/very important, and 73% were willing to consider a symptom assessment instrument that included appetite. Nurses in surveys 4 and 5 reported weight loss and appetite were most commonly used to identify cachexia. They considered responsibility for the initial assessment of cachexia was the oncologist’s (32%), followed by the nurse practitioner (28%), and the nurse (16%).
Conclusion Most oncologists and nurses recognize the core criteria for the CACS, although there may be under-recognition of the condition’s prevalence, particularly earlier in the course of treatment. There is considerable interest in adopting a brief assessment tool for screening, management, and referral of patient who are affected by or at-risk of CACS.
Supplemental material
Click on the PDF icon at the top of this introduction to read the full article.
Issue
The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology - 13(5)
Issue
The Journal of Community and Supportive Oncology - 13(5)
Page Number
181-187
Page Number
181-187
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Health professionals’ attitudes toward the detection and management of cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome, and a proposal for standardized assessment
Display Headline
Health professionals’ attitudes toward the detection and management of cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome, and a proposal for standardized assessment
Legacy Keywords
cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome, CACS, non-small-cell lung cancer, NSCLC, symptom management
Legacy Keywords
cancer-related anorexia-cachexia syndrome, CACS, non-small-cell lung cancer, NSCLC, symptom management
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JCSO 2015;13:181-187
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