The role of the nurse in forming patient awareness regarding dietary supplements during chemotherapy

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, chemotherapy is one of the key components of oncological care. During chemotherapy, special attention is required to monitor the intake of not only concomitant medications but also components of nutritional support, such as dietary supplements and patient dietary preferences. Uncontrolled use of dietary supplements can have a direct impact on the bioavailability of cytostatics and negatively affect the treatment process and patient prognosis.

The aim of the study – to conduct an in-depth investigation of current clinical guidelines, recommendations, scientific publications, and clinical trial results regarding the impact of dietary factors on the effectiveness and safety of chemotherapy, and to evaluate and substantiate the role of the nurse in forming awareness among oncological patients regarding the uncontrolled use of dietary supplements during chemotherapy.

The main part. Theoretical research methods were applied to achieve the scientific goal. Literature analysis showed a critical need for integrating nutritional nursing into the healthcare system of Ukraine. The analysis established that over 60 % of cytostatics are metabolized by the liver via the cytochrome P450 system. This fact demonstrates significant risks for chemotherapy, as dietary supplements containing extracts, antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds can directly affect treatment by influencing the same system. It was established that St. John’s wort reduces the concentration of irinotecan by 42 %, while antioxidants were associated with a 41 % increased risk of recurrence in patients receiving taxane and cyclophosphamide therapy. Particular attention was paid to the consumption of «home-made» market products due to potential risks of severe infectious complications (listeriosis, salmonellosis, escherichiosis), especially in immunosuppressed patients. Western models of nursing counseling and the implementation of “Safe Food Handling” algorithms were investigated. Dietary recommendations were adapted for patients considering the side effects of chemotherapy (nausea, mucositis, neutropenia) and the specific characteristics of Ukrainian cuisine.

Conclusions. Nursing counseling on nutritional safety is an extremely important part of oncological care, significantly impacting compliance and treatment prognosis. The implementation of specialized algorithms allows for the minimization of diet-related risks, improvement of patients’ quality of life during chemotherapy, and enhancement of treatment adherence.