Can early and intensive nutrition care delivered via digital platform or telephone improve quality of life in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer?.

Background:Malnutrition in patients with upper gastrointestinal cancer confers greater risks of morbidity and mortality. Novel costeffective approaches that can deliver early, pre-hospital nutrition intervention before usual hospital dietetic service is commenced are needed. Linking clinicians and patients via mobile health and wireless technologies is a contemporary solution not yet tested for delivery of nutrition therapy to people with cancer. The aim of this study is to commence nutrition intervention earlier than usual care and evaluate the effects of using the telephone or mHealth for intervention delivery. It is hypothesised that participants allocated to receive the early and intensive pre-hospital dietetic service will have more quality of life compared with control participants. This study will also demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of eHealth for the nutrition management of patients at home undergoing cancer treatment. Method(s): This study is a prospective three-group randomised controlled trial, with a concurrent economic evaluation. The 18-week intervention is provided in addition to usual care and is delivered by two different modes, via telephone (group 1) or via mHealth (group 2). The control group receives usual care alone (group 3). The intervention is an individually tailored, symptom-directed nutritional behavioural management program led by a dietitian. Participants will have at least fortnightly reviews. The primary outcome is quality-adjusted life years lived and secondary outcomes include markers of nutritional status. Outcomes will be measured at 3, 6 and 12months follow-up. Discussion(s): The findings will provide evidence of a strategy to implement early and intensive nutrition intervention outside the hospital setting that can favourably impact on quality of life and nutritional status. This patient-centred approach is relevant to current health service provision and challenges the current reactive delivery model of care.