Exploring Malnutrition Risk in Cancer Chemotherapy Patients: An Assessment of Associated Factors in a Tertiary Care Cancer Center

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the risk of malnutrition in cancer chemotherapy patients and identify the associated factors. Materials and Methods: It is a cross-sectional study. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from a tertiary care cancer centre. The study collected data from 101 participants and used a malnutrition screening tool (MST) to assess the risk of malnutrition. Results: The majority of participants in the study were female (61.4%) and in the 3rd or 4th stage of cancer (57.4% and 41.6%, respectively). Of the participants, 63.4% experienced weight loss without trying chemotherapy, and 60.4% were at risk for malnutrition. Cancer stage was associated with malnutrition risk, but other clinical variables were not. Conclusion: Malnutrition is a significant issue among cancer chemotherapy patients in the study’s population. The findings of this study can be used to develop interventions to prevent and manage malnutrition in patients with cancer and improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment in the Indian population.