Nutrition Education for Cancer Patients:Theory,Programs,Evaluation,and Future Perspectives

Nutrition education is an essential component of nutrition intervention and a preferred method of nutrition therapy.Although the development of nutrition education programs for cancer patients follows the basic principles of nutrition education for the general population,it includes more targeted points and is richer in its contents.Such a program should include,but is not limited to,the following ten aspects:1)answer questions from the patient/family/caregivers;2)outline the aims of obtaining a nutrition diagnosis;3)provide dietary nutrition and function evaluations;4)review laboratory and instrumental tests;5)provide dietary and nutrition suggestions;6)clarify cancer pathophysiology;7)schedule nutrition intervention(s);8)explain the possible complications of nutrition intervention and provide solutions;9)predict the outcome of nutrition intervention;10)plan and carry out nutrition follow-up.Studies have shown that providing nutrition education for cancer patients is an economical,practical,and effective measure in clinical oncology.The purpose of nutrition education is not only to impart knowledge about diet and nutrition,but also to train the patients on how to improve their nutrition status,modulate eating behavior,and form good habits regarding diet and nutrition.Therefore,nutrition education is a long-term process.Due to the high malnutrition rates and the complex causes and outcomes,cancer patients need long-term and comprehensive nutrition education,aiming to shorten the length of hospital stay,reduce the complications of both the disease and its treatments,improve clinical outcomes,and finally improve the quality of life and survival.