title: A dietitian-led clinic for patients receiving (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Malnutrition is prevalent in head and neck cancer patients and is associated with poorer outcomes and increased health care costs. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability, organisational efficiency and clinical outcomes of a dietitian-led head and neck cancer clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two consecutive, independent, patient cohorts were studied with a pre-post-test design of 98 patients prior to the introduction of a dietitian-led clinic (DLC) and the subsequent 100 patients who attended the newly formulated DLC. The two groups were compared for frequency of dietitian intervention, weight loss, enteral feeding, hospital admissions and post-treatment medical follow-up requirements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nutritional management in a DLC was associated with reduced nutrition-related admissions from 12% to 4.5% (p = 0.0029), unplanned nasogastric tube insertions from 75% to 39% (p = 0.02), improved transition to oral diet post-radiotherapy from 68.3% to 76.7% (p = 0.10) and reduced radiation oncologist review at 2 weeks post-radiotherapy from 32% to 15% patients (p = 0.009) compared to the cohort prior to the DLC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A dietitian-led head and neck cancer clinic is associated with improved efficiency and nutritional management of head and neck cancer patients and offers a feasible model of care.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Nicole.Kiss@petermac.org
authors.forename: Nicole K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Meinir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnasamy
authors.forename: Jenelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loeliger
authors.forename: Alba
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: Gaelle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dutu
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004046:Dietetics; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D024382:Professional Role; D055815:Young Adult
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