Barriers and Facilitators to Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Intervention during Chemotherapy Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis

dc.contributor.authorHarvey, Brianna I.
dc.contributor.authorYoungblood, Shari M.
dc.contributor.authorKleckner, Amber S.
dc.contributor.departmentSurgery, School of Medicine
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-25T13:52:09Z
dc.date.available2024-06-25T13:52:09Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractPatients undergoing chemotherapy are at risk for malnutrition and a high symptom burden, and nutritional interventions can address clinical and supportive care outcomes. Herein, we identified barriers and facilitators to adhering to a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) intervention during chemotherapy. Patients with cancer (any type) who were undergoing chemotherapy were enrolled into a clinical trial testing the effects of an 8-week MedDiet intervention on cancer-related fatigue. Participants were randomized 2:1, MedDiet:control. The intervention entailed food provision, education, a cookbook, a session with a nutritionist, and weekly check-ins. Post-intervention, all participants completed semi-structured exit interviews. The interviews were transcribed and open coding was conducted to describe the facilitators and barriers to MedDiet adherence. Participants (n=29, n=21 in the intervention group) were 51.0±15.1 years old and 93.1% had breast cancer. Educational materials and convenient food delivery were the highest reported facilitators. Many patients offered that changing their diet gave a sense of control and empowerment. Barriers to adherence were that the frozen food was unappetizing, participants’ (or their spouse/children’s) food preferences did not align with the MedDiet, and chemotherapy-induced side effects that prevented food consumption (e.g., mouth sores, lack of appetite). This project helps understand the patient experience within nutritional interventions to optimize dietary programs during chemotherapy treatment.
dc.eprint.versionAuthor's manuscript
dc.identifier.citationHarvey BI, Youngblood SM, Kleckner AS. Barriers and Facilitators to Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Intervention during Chemotherapy Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis. Nutr Cancer. 2023;75(5):1349-1360. doi:10.1080/01635581.2023.2192891
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1805/41875
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis
dc.relation.isversionof10.1080/01635581.2023.2192891
dc.relation.journalNutrition and Cancer
dc.rightsPublisher Policy
dc.sourcePMC
dc.subjectAdherence
dc.subjectIntegrative oncology
dc.subjectDietary intervention
dc.subjectClinical trial
dc.subjectDiet
dc.titleBarriers and Facilitators to Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet Intervention during Chemotherapy Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis
dc.typeArticle
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