The Effects of Nutrition Intervention on Postoperative Patients with Tongue Cancer and Floor of Mouth Cancer.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of intensive nutrition support on patients with tongue cancer and floor of mouth cancer after surgery at K Hospital, Tan Trieu campus. Study the clinical intervention with a control group. We conducted the intensive nutrition intervention for our patients by giving counseling materials, sample menu and nutritional supplements, while the control group had only advice about dietary regimens. We evaluated a group before and after the intervention, at the same time compare the two groups before and after the intervention. After 1 mo, the intervention group increased 0.51±1.43 kg in comparison with their weight at the beginning; the weight of the control group lost -0.59±2.33 kg; the difference had statistical significance (p=0.025). After 1 and 2 mo of intervention, the rates of the participants without risk of malnutrition in the intervention group increased significantly in comparison with that in the control group; the difference has statistical significance with p=0.001 and p=0.003. In terms of quality of life, patients' problems related to areas including health status, functioning, symptoms of the intervention group improved more greatly than those of the control group. Especially, anorexia symptoms and financial impact were improved well in the intervention group (p=0.033, p=0.018). Nutrition intervention in patients with tongue cancer and floor of mouth cancer has shown a beneficial effect of nutrition counseling and intervention to improve patients' status in terms of nutrition and their quality of life.