Abstract
Survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of developing long-term complications such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, insulin
resistance, hypertension, osteoporosis and dyslipidemia due to the anti-cancer therapy received . Childhood Cancer Survivors (CCS) have been
shown to have poor dietary habits during and post treatment that fail to follow current dietary recommendations. Given that dietary patterns laid
down early in life' are known to shape future dietary habits, this thesis examined dietary intake and feeding behaviours in childhood cancer patients
recently off treatment.
The thesis included a qualitative investigation of self-reported parent feeding practices during their child 's cancer treatment, a quantitative study to
determine the prevalence of poor diet quality and eating behaviours in childhood cancer patients recently off treatment, and clinical testing of
gustatory and olfactory function in a cohort of childhood cancer patients after treatment completion. The findings from these three studies, along
with a systematic review, guided the development and consumer evaluation of a novel intervention ENeRgy-KIDS (Eating and Nutrition
inteRvention post childhood cancer treatment). Study results demonstrated that some childhood cancer patients were considered to have a
significantly poorer dietary quality and increased levels of disordered eating when compared to healthy aged matched controls. Patients early after
treatment completion were also found to have significantly higher level of gustatory and olfactory dysfunction than the general Australian paediatric
population. In addition, parents indicated they used maladaptive feeding practices with their child during and after treatment completion. The
ENeRgy-KIDS program was well received by consumers who indicated a high level of need for the program . However, consumers felt the structure
of the intervention was unrealistic for time poor families to participate in after their childhood cancer treatment journey.
The findings further iterate the important role of dietary intervention in this population early after treatment completion which may prevent the
nutritional problems developing and translating into increased metabolic risk in long-term survivorship. Successful and sustainable dietary change
through interventions for this population must consider changed eating behaviours, decreased taste and smell function, and the role of parent
feeding behaviours