Kiwi kids with cancer need more help with their nutrition

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-09-12 10:21

New Zealand

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150 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year in Aotearoa - and a large proportion will suffer malnutrition. There is increasing evidence showing that nutritional status has an impact on child cancer outcomes, including overall survival and quality of life. Researchers surveyed 16 centres which provide care to childhood cancer patients about their policies and staff resources. They found that use of standardised nutritional screening and assessment tools was limited, and while interventions such as nutrition education and intravenous nutrition were available within all centres, the criteria for accessing them varied. The researchers say the study provides an evidence base that can help support efforts to standardize nutrition screening, assessment and intervention practices for children with cancer in Aotearoa.