Effect of nutrition education based on IIFAR regimen on patients with gastrointestinal cancer complicated with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background: For patients with gastrointestinal cancer complicated with diabetes, carrying out more effective nutrition education is recommended. However, the current nutrition education protocol is ineffective, resulting in patients suffering from malnutrition and poor blood glucose control. The best education strategy for dietary behavior change in patients with gastrointestinal cancer complicated with diabetes is still unclear. Objective: This article aimed to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of IIFAR (initial check, information exchange, final accuracy check, and response) based nutrition education protocol in patients of gastrointestinal cancer complicated with diabetes. Method: A total of 80 patients with gastrointestinal cancer complicated with diabetes during chemotherapy were recruited from June 2021 to June 2022. They were randomly divided into control group and intervention group with 40 cases each. The control group received routine nutrition education. The intervention group received nutrition education based on the IIFAR regimen. The dietary structure, nutritional status, and blood glucose level before and after intervention were compared between the two groups. Result: The nutritional status and blood glucose control in the intervention group were better than those in the control group. Dietary surveys in the intervention group showed a healthier diet. Nutrition knowledge–attitude–behavior survey showed that the intervention group scored higher than the control group. Conclusion: Nutrition education based on the IIFAR program is feasible and effective for this population. In particular, IIFAR-based nutrition education during the active phase of patients’ cancer treatment provides health benefits. Further translational research is also needed to determine the feasibility, enablers, and barriers for clinicians embedding this approach into routine cancer survivorship care.