{
  "abstract": "Objective This study aimed to evaluate factors affecting nutrition and weight loss in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiotherapy (RT) and investigate the effect of nurse-led support on symptom management.Methods Fifty patients with histologically confirmed HNC receiving definitive or postoperative RT were prospectively enrolled and monitored by a clinical nurse throughout treatment and follow-up (study group). Nutritional intake and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) were recorded. A control group of 45 matched patients without nurse follow-up was recruited for comparison.Results At treatment completion, the study group had a mean weight loss of 3.0 kg (4.35%) vs 5.2 kg (6.9%) in the control group (p=0.03). Moderate dysphagia occurred in 42% of the study group and 62% of the control group (p=0.04). Grade 3 toxicities were 10% more frequent in the control group.Conclusion Nurse-led follow-up significantly improved nutritional outcomes and reduced treatment-related side effects in patients with HNC. These results highlight the value of nursing care in supporting treatment adherence and enhancing multidisciplinary cancer care.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Radiation Oncology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Meltem Dağdelen"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Radiation Oncology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Muhammed Veysel Hekim"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Radiation Oncology, Ministry of Health Kahramanmaras Necip Fazil City Hospital, Dulkadiroğlu, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Tuba Kurt Catal"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Radiation Oncology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Filiz Irmak"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Public Health, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Günay Can"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Esengül Koçak Uzel"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Radiation Oncology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey"
      ],
      "name": "Ömer Erol Uzel"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Nursing care and nutritional status in head and neck cancer",
  "uid": "beb34f41-f923-5993-9495-b6a34b142368"
}