P027 - COMPARE ADHERANCE TO ESPEN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ONCOLOGY PATIENTS AT THE ONCOLOGY DAY UNIT CAVAN MONAGHAN HOSPITAL (CMH), IRELAND

P027

COMPARE ADHERANCE TO ESPEN RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ONCOLOGY PATIENTS AT THE ONCOLOGY DAY UNIT CAVAN MONAGHAN HOSPITAL (CMH), IRELAND

M. Brady^1,*, B. Mallon Moore¹, M. Gilmartin²

¹Dietetics, ²Nursing, Cavan Monaghan Hospital, Cavan, Ireland

Rationale: ESPEN recommend routine screening and rescreening for malnutrition and referral to dietetics as appropriate. Along with malnutrition screening, ESPEN also suggest nutritional requirements for oncology patients. Compliance to current ESPEN recommendations were audited. 

Methods: 30 patients were selected (August 2024- December 2024) who had commenced chemotherapy at the oncology day ward. Data was collected by the senior oncology dietitian in January 2025. Data was then analysed.

Results: 90% of those who were starting chemotherapy had MUST completed, with 80% of these completed accurately. 0% of this cohort had MUST repeated.  Of those who had malnutrition screening completed 43% were referred to dietetics. When compared to local policy it was evident that at least 60% of patients should have been referred. At the initial assessment by the dietitian 21% were meeting >75% of their estimated caloric and protein requirements estimated using ESPEN criteria and clinical judgement. At the follow up dietetic assessment 86% were meeting >75% of their calorie and protein requirements.

Conclusion: Limited rescreening for malnutrition is being carried out. The need to rescreen patients is essential to monitor the need for dietitian input during a patient’s oncology journey. When comparing a standardised tool such as MUST against locally agreed referral criteria it is clear that some referrals are likely to not be picked up suggesting that a more comprehensive tool is needed for oncology patients. Analysis of patients meeting estimated calorie and protein requirements at initial dietetic assessment versus follow up clearly demonstrates the impact dietetic intervention has. 

References: Arends J, Bachmann P, Baracos VE, et al. ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients. Clin Nutr. 2017, 36; 11-48

Disclosure of Interest: None declared