PD709 - BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES AND CLINICAL PRACTICE IN ROMANIANONCOLOGY PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

PD709

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES AND CLINICAL PRACTICE IN ROMANIAN

ONCOLOGY PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY

I. M. Has^1,*

¹Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania

Rationale: Rationale: Malnutrition in cancer patients impairs treatment tolerance, increases complications,
and reduces survival. Although international guidelines recommend early nutritional screening,
individualized counseling, and timely nutritional intervention as integral components of
oncology care, their implementation in routine practice remains limited.

Methods: Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March and July 2025 among
adult oncology patients in Romania. A 25-item questionnaire assessed clinical and
sociodemographic characteristics, weight changes, nutrition-impact symptoms, access to
counseling, dietary practices, and unmet needs. Data from 418 complete responses were
analyzed.

Results: Results: Over half of respondents reported weight loss during treatment, with 36.1% losing more
than 5 kg. Eating difficulties related to treatment were reported by 65.3%, most often nausea or
vomiting, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea, and dysphagia. Only 25.6% received nutritional
information at diagnosis, and 27.5% had access to in-hospital counseling, which was
significantly lower in public hospitals compared to private hospitals (14.4% vs. 49.3%). In total,
59.3% never consulted a nutrition specialist, 79.2% did not receive medical nutrition therapy,
and 62% of patients with significant weight loss received no nutritional intervention. Key unmet
needs included unclear nutritional guidance, limited dietitian access, and financial barriers.

Conclusion: Conclusions: Nutritional care remains insufficiently implemented in Romanian oncology
practice, with a substantial gap between evidence-based recommendations and real-world
delivery, particularly in the public sector. Early nutritional screening, better access to dietitians,
and structured referral pathways are needed to translate existing guidance into daily clinical
practice and improve supportive cancer care.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared