Evidence mapPaperPMID 39796623Full record

ArticleNutrients2025

Progress and Challenges in Integrating Nutritional Care into Oncology Practice: Results from a National Survey on Behalf of the NutriOnc Research Group.

Francesca De Felice, Silvia Malerba, Valerio Nardone, Viola Salvestrini, Natale Calomino, Mario Testini, Virginia Boccardi, Isacco Desideri, Carolina Gentili, Raffaele De Luca and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 74 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
74citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

74 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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14 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Francesca De FeliceRadiation Oncology, Policlinico Umberto I, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00042 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5119-8358
Silvia MalerbaDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70110 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6462-2090
Valerio NardoneDepartment of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", 80131 Naples, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7347-0965
Viola SalvestriniRadiation Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, 50110 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9793-500X
Natale CalominoDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5426-5985
Mario TestiniDepartment of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70110 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9297-4894
Virginia BoccardiDivision of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2134-1122
Isacco DesideriRadiation Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, University of Florence, 50110 Florence, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9880-8387
Carolina GentiliRadiation Oncology, Policlinico Umberto I, Department of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, 00042 Rome, Italy.
Raffaele De LucaDepartment of Surgical Oncology, Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", 70100 Bari, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9337-0769
Luigi MaranoDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9777-9588

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionNutritional care is a cornerstone of cancer treatment, with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes by addressing malnutrition and enhancing recovery. Despite growing awareness, the integration of evidence-based nutritional strategies into oncology remains inconsistent. Following a 2020 survey that highlighted critical gaps, the NutriOnc Research Group launched targeted initiatives to raise awareness and improve practices. This study reassesses progress in integrating nutritional care and identifies persistent challenges.

methodsA 29-question survey was conducted in 2024 among 73 early-career oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and nutrition specialists across Italy. Respondents provided insights into clinical nutrition program availability, multidisciplinary team composition, screening practices, and educational needs.

resultsEncouraging advancements were noted, with 80.8% of respondents reporting the presence of clinical nutrition programs, compared to fewer structured efforts in 2020. However, only 26.0% included nutrition specialists in multidisciplinary teams, and barriers such as financial constraints, limited product availability, and the absence of trained professionals persisted. While 82.2% performed nutritional screening, variability in tools and practices highlighted the need for standardization. Strikingly, 98.6% expressed a strong demand for advanced education on clinical nutrition, emphasizing the need for innovative and accessible training programs.

conclusionsThis study reveals a landscape of progress tempered by persistent inequities. To close the gap, oncology must embrace standardized protocols, expand access to trained nutrition specialists, and invest in educational initiatives. The findings offer actionable insights for transforming cancer care through nutrition, underscoring its potential to improve survival, quality of life, and overall treatment success.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health Care, IntegratedMedical OncologyNeoplasmsNutrition TherapyFemaleHumansItalyMalnutritionPatient Care TeamSurveys and Questionnairescancerclinical nutritionmalnutritionmultidisciplinary carenutritional assessmentsurvey

Identifiers

PMID39796623
PMCPMC11722632

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.