Development and Feasibility of an Inpatient Cancer-Related Sarcopenia Pathway at a Major Cancer Centre

Jenelle Loeliger, Lara Edbrooke, Robin M. Daly, Jane Stewart, Lucy Bucci, Carmen Puskas, Marnie Fitzgerald, Brenton J. Baguley and Nicole Kiss
Additional contact information
Jenelle Loeliger: Nutrition & Speech Pathology Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Lara Edbrooke: Department of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Robin M. Daly: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Jane Stewart: Nutrition & Speech Pathology Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Lucy Bucci: Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Carmen Puskas: Nutrition & Speech Pathology Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Marnie Fitzgerald: Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Brenton J. Baguley: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
Nicole Kiss: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Cancer-related sarcopenia is a complex condition; however, no cancer-specific clinical model is available to guide clinical practice. This study aims to (1) develop an evidence-based care pathway for the management of cancer-related sarcopenia (“sarc-pathway”) and (2) pilot test the feasibility (reach, intervention fidelity, patient and clinician acceptability) of the sarc-pathway in an inpatient cancer ward. The sarc-pathway was developed using a care pathway format and informed by the current literature. Patients admitted to a 32-bed inpatient cancer ward were recruited to receive sarc-pathway care and the feasibility outcomes were assessed. Of the 317 participants admitted, 159 were recruited over 3.5-months (median age 61 years; 56.0% males). Participant consent was high (99.4% of those approached) and 30.2% were at risk of/had sarcopenia. The sarc-pathway screening, assessment and treatment components were delivered as intended; however, low completion of clinical assessment measures were observed for muscle mass (bioimpedance spectroscopy, 20.5%) and muscle function (5-times chair stand test, 50.0%). The sarc-pathway was demonstrated to be acceptable to patients and multidisciplinary clinicians. In an inpatient cancer ward, the sarc-pathway is a feasible and acceptable clinical model and method to deliver and adhere to the sarcopenia clinical parameters specified, albeit with further exploration of appropriate clinical assessment measures.

Keywords: sarcopenia; low muscle mass; cancer; nutrition; exercise; care pathway; multimodal; malnutrition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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