Nutrients · 7 authors, 4 centres
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This national survey of German hospitals and medical offices assessed the implementation of guideline-recommended supportive nutrition and exercise therapy for cancer patients. It found that while recommendations are generally acknowledged, their practical implementation in routine clinical care is inadequate, with significant gaps in screening, therapy provision, and structured offers.
This cross-sectional survey sent an online questionnaire to 5074 German healthcare institutions, receiving 261 responses (5.1% response rate) to assess real-world implementation of cancer nutrition and exercise guidelines. Central results indicate widespread gaps: 59% report nutrition therapy as integral to oncological treatment, 66.7% have a nutrition specialist/team, and 65.1% routinely screen for nutritional status. Only about half define specific nutrition therapy goals. For exercise, 85.8% generally recommend it, but only 19.6% provide specific offers at their own institution. A key finding is that 68.9% only consult a nutrition therapist for obvious nutritional disorders, missing opportunities for early intervention. The findings imply a significant need for structural changes, education, and health policy support to bridge the gap between guideline recommendations and routine clinical practice for cancer patients.
