NUTRI-HAB - Posttreatment Rehabilitation of Nutrition Impact Symptoms in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Odense University Hospital71 enrolled

Overview

The study is a randomised controlled trial that aims to test the effect of a residential rehabilitation program with a focus on eating problems after treatment in head and neck cancer survivors. The study will furthermore investigate whether selected nutrition screening and assessment tools can be used to identify head and neck cancer survivor who benefit from the program.

This study is a randomised controlled trial with following objectives: 1. To test the effect of a targeted residential rehabilitation program with focus on the physical, psychological and social aspects of eating problems on body weight, health-related quality of life and physical function in curatively treated head and neck cancer survivors 1-5 years after completion of radiation therapy 2. To test whether a potential effect of the program is associated with/dependent of the participants' score in Scores Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment Short Form (PG-SGA-SF), Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) or M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) at baseline

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Head and Neck Cancer

Interventions

NUTRI-HABOTHER

The rehabilitation program is a coordinated multidisciplinary effort involving several specialists e.g. clinical dietitians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists (responsible for dysphagia management in Denmark), psychologists and social workers. The program includes group sessions with patient education on how to handle the different aspects of living with eating problems and other late effects. Practical kitchen exercises, physical activity sessions and instruction in swallowing training are included. Individual counseling sessions with clinical dietitians and other health professionals (e.g. physicians) are offered depending on participants' needs. Participants stay at the premises and all meals throughout the day are served in the dining room or in the café. Foods of different textures and flavors are served to inspire participants and to allow them to experiment. Between the initial stay and follow-up participants are contacted twice by a clinical dietitian.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Cancer of the larynx, pharynx or oral cavity * Treatment with radiation therapy completed 1-5 years before inclusion * Curatively treated * Expression of interest in participating in the rehabilitation program in a preceding survey * Self-reliant and no need for assistance with personal hygiene etc. Exclusion Criteria: * Active cancer disease at the time of recruitment * Not being able to speak and understand Danish * No permanent residence in Denmark

Locations (1)

REHPA, The Danish Knowledge Centre for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care

Nyborg, Denmark

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Percentage change in body weight from baseline to follow up

Body weight will be measured with a calibrated scale at baseline and at follow up. Measurements will be performed by trained health professionals and standardised protocols will be followed. The change in percent will be calculated for each individual participant and be used as the primary outcome.

Time frame: Difference between measurements at baseline and at follow-up after 3 and 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Change in health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) from baseline to follow up

Health-related quality of life (QOL) is measured using the generic EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire for cancer patients. Questionnaires will be scored according to EORTC's scoring manual, and changes from baseline to follow-up in the QOL-subscales will be calculated for each individual participant. The questionnaire consist of 30 items that are further divided into 15 subscales/items: a global health status/QOL scale; the functional scales: physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, cognitive functioning, social functioning and the symptom scales/items: fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, dyspnoea, insomnia, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhoea, financial difficulties. All scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high score represents a higher response level. Thus a high score for a functional scale or global QOL represents a high level of functioning/QOL whereas a high score on a symptom scale represents a high level of symptoms.

Time frame: Difference between measurements at baseline and at follow-up after 3 and 6 months

Change in health-related quality of life (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) from baseline to follow up

Health-related quality of life (QOL) is measured using the questionnaire EORTC QLQ-H\&N35 specific for head and neck cancer. Questionnaires will be scored according to EORTC's scoring manual, and changes from baseline to follow-up in the QOL-subscales will be calculated for each individual participant. The EORTC QLQ-H\&N35 consists of 35 items that are further divided into the following symptom scales/items: pain, swallowing, sensory problems, speech problems, trouble with social eating, trouble with social contact, less sexuality, teeth, opening mouth, dry mouth, sticky saliva, coughing, felt ill, pain killers, nutritional supplements, feeding tube, weight loss, weight gain. All scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high score represents a higher response level. Thus a high score for symptom scale represents a high level of symptoms.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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