Compliance with Oral Nutritional Supplementation among Gastric Cancer Patients at Nutritional Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Aims

To explore compliance with oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) and to identify the risk factors for noncompliance among gastric cancer patients based on the health belief model (HBM)

Methods

This prospective, observational study included gastric cancer patients at nutritional risk who were prescribed ONS from July to September 2020. Demographic factors, clinical factors, ONS-related factors, social factors and variables derived from the HBM were collected. The outcome of interest was compliance with ONS, which was measured by self-reported intake of ONS. Uni- and multivariate analyses of potential risk factors for noncompliance were performed.

Results

A total of 162 gastric cancer patients in the preoperative and adjuvant chemotherapy periods were analyzed. The compliance rate with ONS was 24.7%. Univariate analysis identified thirteen variables as risk factors for decreased compliance. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that ONS compliance was independently associated with the treatment period, perceived barriers to ONS, the motivation to take ONS, and the timing of taking ONS.

Conclusion

This study showed that overall ONS compliance among gastric cancer patients was notably low. Patients in the chemotherapy treatment period who took ONS at random times each day perceived more barriers to taking ONS and had a lower level of motivation were associated with lower compliance with ONS.

Author Contributions

All authors have agreed on the final version and meet at least one of the following criteria recommended by the ICMJE. (1) substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content.

Conflict of Interest Statement

No conflicts of interest have been declared by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by CIFST - Abbott Foundation of Food Nutrition and Safety (2020-15) and supported by National Key Clinical Discipline.