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Assessing malnutrition among chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy cancer Benghazi outpatients

Diwa Pandey (Garyounis University, Benghazi, Libya)
Mohammed H. Buzgeia (Garyounis University, Benghazi, Libya)
Safaa A.E. Badr (Menoufiya University, Menoufiya, Egypt Garyounis University, Benghazi, Libya)
Faiza Gheith Senussi (Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia)
Haifa Ibrahim El‐Mokasabi (Garyounis University, Benghazi, Libya)
Aisha Mohammed El‐Shahomi (Garyounis University, Benghazi, Libya)

Nutrition & Food Science

ISSN: 0034-6659

Article publication date: 13 September 2011

516

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the extent of actual malnutrition and its risk among cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy in the Libyan city of Benghazi.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross‐sectional nutritional assessment study using the patient‐generated subjective global assessment (PG‐SGA) was carried out on 200 (91 males and 109 females) cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Findings

A total of 25 per cent of the subjects were severely malnourished while 73.5 per cent were either at risk of malnutrition or suspected to be malnourished. Almost all (99.5 per cent) needed some degree of intervention (critical in nature for 83.5 per cent). Family income and physical activity were associated with nutritional status (p<0.05). Body Mass Index alone is an insensitive criterion for identifying malnutrition among such patients. All the sections and subsections of the PG‐SGA had a statistically significant positively correlation with its total score (r=0.51‐0.96, p<0.05). Dieticians played a very limited role in patient nutritional care.

Practical implications

It is suggested that dieticians should play a more participatory and prominent role in a multidisciplinary team involved in patient nutritional care. The PG‐SGA can help identify areas where tailor made strategies to counteract specific malnutrition or its risk can be planned, implemented and monitored.

Originality/value

There exists a considerable prevalence of malnutrition among Benghazi cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, most of whom need critical intervention.

Keywords

Citation

Pandey, D., Buzgeia, M.H., Badr, S.A.E., Gheith Senussi, F., Ibrahim El‐Mokasabi, H. and Mohammed El‐Shahomi, A. (2011), "Assessing malnutrition among chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy cancer Benghazi outpatients", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 41 No. 5, pp. 298-307. https://doi.org/10.1108/00346651111170897

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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