A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey on Oncology Healthcare Professionals’ Awareness of Cancer Cachexia Diagnosis and its Management: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: As per the new classification of Cancer Cachexia (CC), the clear distinct precachexia stage can be identified, enabling early interventional strategies to retard the progression of CC. Given its recent classification and potential to prevent the onset of CC, it is imperative to study its awareness among Oncology Health Care Providers in India. Aim: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of diagnosing and managing CC in a group of oncologists and Onco-physiotherapists in India. Materials and Methods: This was a survey-based crosssectional study. The surveys were disseminated through various Indian Oncology professional organisation bodies in the country via emails from May 2020 to April 2021. Two survey questionnaires were formulated and validated based on a literature review and input from experts in the field. A total of 64 oncologists with an average of 11.96±8.49 years of experience and 53 physiotherapists with an average of 3.86±4.89 years of experience participated in the survey. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: In the knowledge domain, oncologists considered muscle wasting (37, 58%), weight loss (36, 57%), and loss of appetite (18, 14%) as the most accurate determinants of CC, and Onco-physiotherapists considered weight loss (18, 34%), muscle wasting (16, 30%), and loss of appetite (11, 21%) as the most accurate determinants. In the attitude domain of both surveys, nutritional therapy was considered an extremely important treatment. In the practice domain, the results showed that the majority of Oncologists (25, 39%) would initiate treatment at a weight loss of >5% when the stage of cachexia or refractory cachexia may have set in, while Oncophysiotherapists (23, 43%) would do so at 5%. Conclusion: These surveys suggest a knowledge-to-action gap and highlight the need for increased awareness about CC among cancer healthcare providers for optimal patient care.