EVALUATION OF DIET ACCEPTANCE BY PATIENTS WITH HAEMATOLOGICAL CANCER DURING CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC TREATMENT.
BACKGROUND
a compromised nutritional status is one of the factors that may increase the morbidity and mortality of chemotherapy patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate acceptance of the diet by patients with haematological cancer throughout their hospital stay for chemotherapeutic treatment.


METHODS
this was a cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study, carried out from February to October 2014 in adult patients of both genders diagnosed with lymphoma and leukaemia. Food intake was evaluated on a daily basis through a recording instrument designed by the author. ANOVA test for repeated measurements was employed.


RESULTS
32 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 42 ± 11 years, the majority of whom were women (66%). We observed gastrointestinal disturbances in 72% of the patients, most commonly nausea (59%), followed by xerostomia (34%), vomiting (28%) and dysgeusia (25%). The percentage of leftover food was significant, varying from 23% to 35%. Lunch and dinner were the most frequently rejected meals. Light meals were more well-tolerated, having been accepted in 75% to 100% of the offers.


CONCLUSIONS
The food records show that during chemotherapy cycles, patients present significant food rejection, specially with larger meals such as lunch and dinner, though light meals are better tolerated. Employing food options chosen by patients may be a strategy to improve dietary acceptance. More studies on this subject are necessary in order to improve nutritional care to this population, aiming to prevent and/or rehabilitate the nutritional status of these patients.
Resident nutritionist.. marilyn.ferreira@ufsc.br.
Stéphanie
S
Prockmann
Nutrition Department of the University Hospital.. marilyn.ferreira@ufsc.br.
Ana Helena
AH
Ruschel Freitas
Nutrition Department of the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Brazil.. marilyn.ferreira@ufsc.br.
Marilyn
M
Gonçalves Ferreira
Nutrition Department of the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Brazil.. marilyn.ferreira@ufsc.br.
Francilene Gracieli
FG
Kunradi Vieira
Nutrition Department of the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Brazil.. marilyn.ferreira@ufsc.br.
Raquel
R
Kuerten de Salles
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors