Interprofessional Team–Based Whole-Course Enteral Nutrition in the Peri–Radiation Therapy Period for Esophageal Cancer

BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy is the main treatment method for esophageal cancer, but its side effects are not ideal. The interprofessional team (IPT) management model has been widely applied in clinical practice; however, there are few reports on nurse-led IPT-based enteral nutrition intervention strategies for patients with esophageal cancer. OBJECTIVES: A nurse-led, IPT-based, whole-course enteral nutrition intervention was investigated to determine whether it could achieve better nutritional status, quality of life, and treatment efficacy for patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS: A total of 72 patients with esophageal cancer were randomized to control and IPT groups. Nutritional status, quality of life, and treatment efficacy were observed before and after radiation therapy. FINDINGS: Severe malnutrition and grade 3 or higher bone marrow suppression had significantly lower incidence, and the one-year progression-free and overall survival rates of patients were significantly higher in the IPT group than the control group.