Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward nutritional management among patients with gastrointestinal cancer: A cross-sectional study
Xiaoxu Zhi, Jie Chen, Liu Yang, Sheng Li, Liuliu Zhang, Yun Zhao, Min Wang, Zhiyan Zhou, Funa Yang, Zhenyu Gu, Xiaoju Zhang, Huizi Tian, Qin Xu, Jun Yao
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding nutritional management among patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to May 2024 across hospitals in Jiangsu, Henan, Shanghai, and Tianjin, China. Participants completed questionnaires that collected demographic data and assessed their KAP toward nutritional management. Results: < 0.001). Conclusions: While most gastrointestinal cancer patients demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding nutritional management, their attitudes were predominantly negative, and their practices were largely inactive. These findings highlight a critical need for targeted educational interventions to bridge knowledge gaps and encourage more active engagement with nutritional guidelines.