Nutritional challenges in childhood cancer: Prevalence, contributing factors and an intervention in children recently after treatment completion

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Copyright: Fleming, Catharine
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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
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Author(s)
Fleming, Catharine
Supervisor(s)
Lloyd, Andrew
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Publication Year
2014
Resource Type
Thesis
Degree Type
PhD Doctorate
UNSW Faculty
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