title: Food caregivers influence on nutritional intake among admitted haematological cancer patients - a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Haematological cancer patients have an increased risk of undernourishment due to their malignancy, treatment toxicity and severe infections. This study examines whether kitchen assistants working as food caregivers increase nutritional intake and knowledge among haematological cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of two cross-sectional studies with dietary assessment of patients with haematological malignancies before (N = 42) and after (N = 45) implementation of food caregivers. Secondly, a questionnaire concerning dietary counselling performed before (N = 74) and after (N = 78) the implementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The energy requirements were fulfilled with 76.2% (CI 95% 64.6-87.9) and 93.3% (CI 95% 82.3-104.3) of the calculated need in the before-group and the after-group, respectively (p = 0.03). The improvement was mainly due to increased energy intake through between meal snacks served by the food caregivers. There was no difference in protein intake between the two groups. The study showed that more than two-thirds of the patients in both groups had side effects like fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, xerostomia or taste disorder to a degree that affected nutritional intake. When adjusted for side effects, patients in the after-group increased energy intake by 22% (CI 95% 6.1-38.0) (p = 0.007). After implementation of food caregivers significantly more patients stated that they were informed about their nutritional needs, 41% in the before-group and 67% in the after-group (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Educated and trained food caregivers working at the wards increase nutritional intake and knowledge among haematological cancer patients and play an important role in the multi professional nutritional management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Centre of Cancer and Inflammation, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage-Hansens Gade 2, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Electronic address: astrlind@rm.dk.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindman
authors.forename: Helle Brygger
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Niels Frost
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011361:Professional Competence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Between meal snacks; Cancer; Catering; Dietary counselling; Food caregivers; Haematological cancer patients; Haematology; Nutrition; Oral supplements; Side effect