P032 - PRESCRIBING FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DURING RADIOTHERAPY: ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL INDICATIONS AND PATIENT’S DEMAND

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P032

PRESCRIBING FOOD SUPPLEMENTS DURING RADIOTHERAPY: ASSESSMENT OF MEDICAL INDICATIONS AND PATIENT’S DEMAND

R. Laraichi1,2,*, S. Smiti1,2, I. Lahlali1,2, O. Alaoui Hichami1,2, K. Nouni1,2, A. Lachgar1,2, H. El kacemi1,3, T. kebdani1,2, K. Hassouni1,2

1radiotherapy, national institute of oncology, 2Faculty of medecine, 3radiotherapy, Mohammed V university, Rabat, Morocco

 

Rationale: In cancer patients, malnutrition is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, decreased treatment effectiveness, and prolonged hospital stay.

In this context, oral nutritional supplements should be proposed taking into account their specific indications. Their prescription is sometimes requested by the patient himself.

this study aims to assess the prescription of dietary supplements in patients undergoing radiotherapy,as well as the patient's request for supplementation.

Methods: Descriptive study including 75 patients followed for cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Semi-directed interviews were conducted with patients during the weekly monitoring consultation, focusing on consumption of food supplements, medical indication behind its prescription, and patient's demand for supplementation.

Results: Interviews were conducted with 75 patients, 72% of whom were already consuming one or more dietary supplements. Supplementation was indicated by the attending physician following a medical cause: malnutrition and anorexia, asthenia, iron deficiency, hypovitaminosis, in association with other drugs such as corticosteroids and anti-aromatases or to prevent malnutrition in patients suffering from early mucositis. The most prescribed food supplements were: high-protein powders, gensing and taurine ampoules, iron, calcium and vitamin D.

The majority of patients (93%) strongly expressed a need for dietary supplementation and requested it from their doctors, specifically those who had previously benefited from other anti-cancer therapies before radiotherapy and those suffering from tumors of the aerodigestive tract and the ENT sphere in whom dysphagia is frequent.

Conclusion: This study highlights the significant patient's demand of supplementation during treatment, hence the importance of specialized dietary support.

 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared