The Effect of a Home-delivered Protein-rich Meal Service on Quality of Life in Oncological Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background:Patients undergoing oncological treatment may experience a variety of symptoms that interfere with their ability to eat and enjoy meals. This compromises their nutritional status and impairs quality of life (QOL).Objective:Compare a home-delivered protein-rich service as a therapeutic measure to patients undergoing chemotherapy with usual care.Methods:Randomized clinical trial enrolling patients (n = 148) receiving chemotherapy. The intervention group received 6 protein-rich dishes per day for 3 weeks, the control group maintained their usual diet. QOL, energy and protein intake, nutritional and functional status, physical performance, symptom burden, and caregiver QOL were assessed.Results:No difference in QOL was found between the groups but QOL in the gastrointestinal and gynecological tumor groups increased by 8.4 points (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0-15.8;P< .05) after the intervention, while scores in other tumor groups did not change. Significant effects were observed in energy intake (21%; 95% CI 10.4-32.1) and Short Physical Performance Battery (0.28; 95% CI 0.2-0.8) in the intervention group.Conclusions:In patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, a home-delivered protein-rich meal service did not improve QOL for the total group but QOL significantly improved in the subpopulation with abdominal cancer.Implications for Practice:Future research should focus on vulnerable patients with a high risk for malnutrition and symptoms, such as gastrointestinal and gynecological malignancies, considering the beneficial results in this subgroup.Foundational:A home-delivered protein-rich meal service is feasible in patients with cancer while undergoing chemotherapy. QOL increased in gastrointestinal and gynecological cancer patients receiving this meal service.