Weight-Related Communications Between Oncology Clinicians and Women With Obesity at Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Findings From a Review of Electronic Health Records

Abstract

Background: The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Position Statement on Obesity and Cancer notes that the oncology care team is in a unique position to initiate weight management conversations that may help patients manage their weight in survivorship.Methods: Qualitative and quantitative content analysis of electronic health records at a university-affiliated cancer hospital was conducted to gather documentation of weight-related communications between oncology clinicians and their patients with obesity (Body Mass Index 30 or higher) at early breast cancer diagnosis.Results: The sample includes 237 women, mean age 56.5 (range 25–86), 37% black, and mean BMI 36 (range 30–59). Ninety-three patients (39%) had weight-related communications with at least one oncology clinician, for a total of 120 communications. Seventy-three percent of these communications were with a medical oncologist, 17% with a radiation oncologist, and 10% with a surgical oncologist. Examples of communications include referrals to weight management programs (22%), printed patient instructions about diet or diet and exercise (12%), and clinician notes describing weight-related interactions with their patients (67%).Conclusions: This study provides preliminary but encouraging evidence of weight-related communications during a busy clinic visit with patients who were obese at breast cancer diagnosis.