Understanding colorectal cancer survivors’ perceptions of dietary advice: a literature review
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Understanding colorectal cancer survivors’ perceptions of dietary advice: a literature review

Natasha Cox Final year student, BSc adult nursing, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, England
Tanya Andrewes Lecturer, Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To recognise the importance of promoting healthy lifestyle changes following cancer treatment

  • To understand the motivating factors and barriers to making dietary changes that colorectal cancer survivors may experience

  • To identify approaches you could use in your practice to improve the dietary advice and guidance provided to patients

The number of colorectal cancer survivors in the UK is increasing. Healthier diets can improve prognosis for survivors, but research indicates that they are dissatisfied with the dietary advice they receive. This article details a literature review that explored colorectal cancer survivors’ perceptions of dietary advice. Thematic analysis of the data identified five main themes: dissatisfaction with dietary advice; motivating factors for making dietary changes; barriers to dietary changes; sources and formats of dietary information; and the impact of symptoms caused by treatment and dietary changes. The authors conclude that individualised dietary advice and nurse-facilitated peer support sessions could support person-centred holistic care for colorectal cancer survivors. Nurses may require additional training from dietitians and experienced nurse specialists to deliver this care.

Cancer Nursing Practice. doi: 10.7748/cnp.2021.e1799

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

tashregcox3@gmail.com

Conflict of interest

None declared

Cox N, Andrewes T (2021) Understanding colorectal cancer survivors’ perceptions of dietary advice: a literature review. Cancer Nursing Practice. doi: 10.7748/cnp.2021.e1799

Published online: 13 September 2021

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