Nutritional Management of Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Qualitative Exploration of Patients' and Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives.

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the experiences of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in nutrition management and the problems in the process of implementing nutrition management for patients by healthcare professionals.

Methods: This is a qualitative descriptive study. Qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews with lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (N = 16) and healthcare professionals (N = 24) from the oncology department at three tertiary grade A hospitals.

Results: Three themes emerged from the patients' interviews: deficiency in nutritional management capabilities; barriers to implementing nutritional management; incentives to implementing nutritional management. Five themes emerged from the healthcare professionals' interviews: insufficient attention to nutritional management of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy; lack of standardization in nutritional management; inadequate support for nutritional management; weak multidisciplinary awareness; poor compliance from patients and their families.

Conclusions: The nutritional management of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy is a complicated and vital process that requires the joint efforts of healthcare professionals and patients. Formulating corresponding strategies from multiple perspectives is suggested to provide targeted nutritional guidance for patients.

Implication for nursing practice: This study can help nurses better understand the nutritional management needs and challenges of patients to provide individualized nutritional guidance to patients. Meanwhile, the study also found the existing problems of nutrition management in clinical work, which can help nurses to reflect on and better participate in the nutrition management of patients.