Need for nutritional support in advanced cancer patients with cachexia: A survey in palliative care settings.

100Background: Few studies have investigated the need for nutritionalsupport in advanced cancer patients in palliative care settings.The aim of this survey is to examine the relationship between the need for nutritionalsupport and cancer cachexia, specific needs, perceptions, and beliefs. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire in outpatient service/palliative care teams/palliative care units. Patients were classified into two groups: 1) Non- cachexia/Pre- cachexiaand 2) Cachexia/Refractory cachexia. Results: A total of 117 out of 121 patients responded (96.7%). A significant difference was observed in the need for nutritionalsupport between the groups: Non- cachexia/Pre- cachexia(32.7%) and Cachexia/Refractory cachexia(53.6%) (p = 0.031). The specific needs of patients requiring nutritionalsupport were nutritionalcounseling (93.8%), ideas to improve food intake (87.5%), oral nutritionalsupplements (83.0%), parenteral nutritionand hydration (77.1%), and tube feeding (22.9%). The top perceptions regard...