Abstract

Title : The Evaluation of Nutritional Status in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
By : Jutarat Meekhom Chonlada Manitchaloemchai Rattana Khongbua
Degree : BACHELOR OF PHARMACY
Advisor : Anun Chaikoolwatana Nattawat Teerawattanapong Worapot Kaewmarerng Pantaraporn Papapai
Keywords : Breast cancer, Nutritional status
   
This pre-post, controlled study was proposed to evaluate the nutritional knowledge and ability to receive chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Twenty-two patients were enrolled in the study; 12 were randomized to intervention arm that will receive the nutrition education from trained pharmacy student with usual care and 10 were randomized to control arm that will receive only usual care (basic knowledge) from pharmacist/pharmacy student. The nutritional knowledge scores assessed by questionnaires and related laboratory values (Hb, Hct, WBC, ANC, Platelet) were collected at index cycle of chemotherapy and the next one. The results showed statistically significant postive increase in knowledge scores among the intervetion group (p = 0.0002), while nonsignificant decrease in control group (p = 0.958). The results from unpaired t-test are shown a statistically significant difference between the mean change scores of intervetion and control arm (p = 0.0002). Spearman’s rank correlation tests are shown nonsignificant correlation between laboratory values and knowledge scores. However, some positive trends have been observed. These results may encourage pharmacists who care for breast cancer patients to play an active role in the nutritional education addition to usual drug counseling for holistic pharmaceutical care achievement.
   
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