Nurses’ management of patients with advanced cancer and weight loss: part 2

Weight loss and eating-related disorders are commonly seen in patients with advanced cancer. Using a qualitative approach this study set out to explore how nurses currently manage weight loss and eating difficulties in everyday practice as well as exploring what guides their decision-making with regard to choice of nutritional interventions and support strategies employed. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses from both hospital and community settings. Analysis of the findings revealed that many nurses use an unplanned and reactive style of nutritional management. The findings provide useful insights and potential explanations to an area where, to date, there has been little published research.