Evaluation of the effect of regular nutrition consult on treatment tolerance and quality of life of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing radiotherapy

Determining the effect of nutritional counseling on the nutritional status and quality of life of head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

In this randomized controlled clinical trial study, phase 2, 200 eligible patients are divided into two groups. The rand function of Excel software was used for randomization. The first group (control) who are treated with radiotherapy. . In the second group (intervention), before the start of radiotherapy, patients are given nutrition counseling . The intervention consists of an individual nutrition consultation every 2 weeks during treatment.

Cancer Institute Clinic, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Inclusion criteria 1. Patients who have been diagnosed with head and neck SCC cancer at T2-T4 stage along with lymph node involvement and are undergoing adjuvant or radical radiotherapy based on the radio-oncologist's diagnosis. 2. Adult patients over 18 years old 3. Patients on oral nutrition. exclusion criteria: 1. People who receive enteral or parenteral nutrition before or during the study 2. Patients with uncontrolled acute underlying diseases such as kidney and liver failure 2. receiving any other supportive treatment • Patients who die during radiotherapy. • Patients who do not continue the study for any reason.

The first group (control) who are treated with oral cavity and neck radiotherapy, in the second group (intervention), before the start of radiotherapy, the patients are given nutrition counseling at the beginning of the treatment. The intervention consists of an individual nutrition consultation every 2 weeks during treatment.

Nutritional status through PG-SGA questionnaire and weight and quality of life

After confirming the criteria for entering the study and obtaining written informed consent , the required measurements will be performed on all subjects at the beginning of the study. Then the patients are placed in double blocks based on the type of head and neck cancer and BMI (±2) and then randomly assigned to the intervention group with a one-to-one ratio (nutrition counseling according to the necessary recommendations based on existing guidelines every two weeks) and control will be allocated. Randomization will be done by someone outside the research team.