The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional Survey
Registered dietitians (RDs) in palliative care help maintain patients’ quality of life by providing personalized nutritional support that alleviates eating-related distress. This study aimed to clarify the role of RDs in palliative care by examining their responsibilities and challenges in caring fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/5/275 |
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| author | Saori Koshimoto Koji Amano Naoharu Mori Atsuko Imai Manami Sasaki Miho Miyajima Takashi Takeuchi |
| author_facet | Saori Koshimoto Koji Amano Naoharu Mori Atsuko Imai Manami Sasaki Miho Miyajima Takashi Takeuchi |
| author_sort | Saori Koshimoto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Registered dietitians (RDs) in palliative care help maintain patients’ quality of life by providing personalized nutritional support that alleviates eating-related distress. This study aimed to clarify the role of RDs in palliative care by examining their responsibilities and challenges in caring for cancer patients. A nationwide mailed survey was conducted in 2022, focusing on RDs involved in cancer palliative care. One RD per facility was included from all 501 hospitals accredited by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Multivariate analysis identified factors related to collaboration with palliative care teams and challenges in cancer care. Responses from 325 RDs (63.9%) across 325 hospitals (63.9%) were analyzed. Among RDs who consistently collaborated with the palliative care team (PCT), significant associations (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were found with exclusive engagement in cancer/palliative care, providing nutritional counseling to inpatients, the frequency of ward rounds, and individualized meal provision. Challenges included the following: “I struggled with determining appropriate food choices for patients unable to eat”, and “Metabolic complications like cachexia hindered my ability to provide adequate support”. RDs play a crucial role in providing individualized meals for cancer patients through PCT collaboration and ward rounds. To ensure effective support in challenging situations, RDs must be exclusively engaged in palliative care and receive specialized education. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9307b3f21c4f48f7bb7a10e5c29d4ee0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9307b3f21c4f48f7bb7a10e5c29d4ee02025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292025-05-0132527510.3390/curroncol32050275The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional SurveySaori Koshimoto0Koji Amano1Naoharu Mori2Atsuko Imai3Manami Sasaki4Miho Miyajima5Takashi Takeuchi6Liaison Psychiatry and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, JapanDepartment of Supportive and Palliative Care, Osaka International Cancer Institute, 3-1-69 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka 541-8567, JapanDepartment of Palliative and Supportive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute 480-1195, JapanDepartment of Nutritional Management, Sagami Women’s University, 2-1-1 Bunkyo, Minami-ku, Sagamihara 252-0383, JapanDepartment of Palliative Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, JapanLiaison Psychiatry and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, JapanLiaison Psychiatry and Psycho-Oncology Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, JapanRegistered dietitians (RDs) in palliative care help maintain patients’ quality of life by providing personalized nutritional support that alleviates eating-related distress. This study aimed to clarify the role of RDs in palliative care by examining their responsibilities and challenges in caring for cancer patients. A nationwide mailed survey was conducted in 2022, focusing on RDs involved in cancer palliative care. One RD per facility was included from all 501 hospitals accredited by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Multivariate analysis identified factors related to collaboration with palliative care teams and challenges in cancer care. Responses from 325 RDs (63.9%) across 325 hospitals (63.9%) were analyzed. Among RDs who consistently collaborated with the palliative care team (PCT), significant associations (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were found with exclusive engagement in cancer/palliative care, providing nutritional counseling to inpatients, the frequency of ward rounds, and individualized meal provision. Challenges included the following: “I struggled with determining appropriate food choices for patients unable to eat”, and “Metabolic complications like cachexia hindered my ability to provide adequate support”. RDs play a crucial role in providing individualized meals for cancer patients through PCT collaboration and ward rounds. To ensure effective support in challenging situations, RDs must be exclusively engaged in palliative care and receive specialized education.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/5/275palliative carecancer patientsregistered dietitianinterdisciplinary collaborationward roundchallenges encountered |
| spellingShingle | Saori Koshimoto Koji Amano Naoharu Mori Atsuko Imai Manami Sasaki Miho Miyajima Takashi Takeuchi The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional Survey Current Oncology palliative care cancer patients registered dietitian interdisciplinary collaboration ward round challenges encountered |
| title | The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full | The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_short | The Role of Registered Dietitians in Cancer Palliative Care: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration—A Cross-Sectional Survey |
| title_sort | role of registered dietitians in cancer palliative care responsibilities challenges and interdisciplinary collaboration a cross sectional survey |
| topic | palliative care cancer patients registered dietitian interdisciplinary collaboration ward round challenges encountered |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/5/275 |
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