Evaluation of a telephone‐delivered dietary behavior intervention for ovarian cancer survivors

Abstract

BACKGROUNDTo date, few dietary interventions have been conducted among ovarian cancer survivors. There is an important need to evaluate feasible and effective means of delivering evidence‐based dietary behavior programs to cancer survivors, including telephone‐delivered counseling interventions (TDCI).METHODSThis randomized parallel‐group study, evaluated a TDCI dietary change targeting ovarian cancer survivors. 51 women were randomized to a plant‐based (PB) diet or a modified NCI diet supplemented with a soy‐based beverage and encapsulated fruit & vegetable concentrates (FVJCs). Women received a workbook and 14 calls over 6 months. Changes in dietary intake and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) were assessed with paired t‐tests.RESULTSAt 6‐mo the FVJC group exhibited higher adherence to the dietary goals of ≥ 5 servings/day of fruits & vegetables, ≥ 25 g/day fiber, & ≤ 20% of kcal from fat (33%, 32%, and 21% adherence, respectively). Participants in the PB group adhered most to the recommendation of ≥ 5 servings/day of vegetables (47%), and ≥ 2 daily 8‐ounce servings of juice (37%) and adhered less to the recommendations of ≥ 30 g fiber/day (26%), ≤ 20% of kcal from fat (16%), and ≥ 3 servings of fruit/day (11%). No changes in HRQOL were observed.CONCLUSIONSThis feasibility trial adds to the currently limited number of TDCI studies targeting dietary change.FUNDING: This research was supported in part by donations from NSA, LLC, Collierville, TN, a NCI grants K01CA158000 (to RJP), and by the NIH through MD Anderson's Cancer Center Support Grant CA016672.