title: Awareness and consideration of malnutrition among oncologists: Insights from an exploratory survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The attitude toward malnutrition varies considerably among oncologists and many malnourished cancer patients receive inadequate nutritional support. The aim of this brief report was to report the results of the exploratory national survey conducted by the Italian Society of Medical Oncology (AIOM) and the Italian Society of Artificial Nutrition and Metabolism (SINPE) before publication of a consensus document aimed at evaluating current attitudes toward malnutrition and management of nutrition, among Italian medical oncologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January and July 2015, the AIOM and the SINPE conducted a national web-based exploratory survey to investigate the attitude of oncologists toward malnutrition, and the management of nutritional support, before publication of an intersociety consensus document.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2375 AIOM members, 135 (5.7%) participated in the survey, with a satisfactory distribution across all Italian regions. Nutritional assessment and support were routinely integrated into patient care for 38 (28%) responders. According to 66 (49%) participants, nutritional assessment was carried out only at the patients' request (n = 62), or not at all (n = 4). Availability of clinical nutritionists was reported by 88 (65%) participants. For 131 responders (97%), nutritional status was decisive (n = 63) or often crucial (n = 68) in assessing whether anticancer treatment was practicable or would be tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low response rate may reflect the lack of awareness and consideration of nutritional issues among Italian oncologists. Although malnutrition and nutritional support seemed to be perceived by the responders as relevant factors for the efficacy of oncologic treatments, it seems that nutritional care practices may well be inappropriate. The lack of collaboration between oncologists and clinical nutritionists may be the first obstacle to overcome. Educational intersociety initiatives aimed at improving nutritional support management for cancer patients in Italy appear urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics Service, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caccialanza
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Dietetics Service, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cereda
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology IRCCS-Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Pain Management and Palliative Care, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cotogni
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Ospedale Fatebenefratelli and Oftalmico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition Unit, National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gavazzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Hemato-Oncology Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gandini
authors.affiliation: Clinical Nutrition Service, Veneto Institute of Oncology-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariateresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology 1, Veneto Institute of Oncology-IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zagonel
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Hemato-Oncology Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy. Electronic address: p.pedrazzoli@smatteo.pv.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pedrazzoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D044623:Nutrition Therapy; D000072103:Oncologists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Cancer; Malnutrition; Nutritional support