The knowledge, attitude, and practice score on Oral Nutrition Supplementation is inversely associated with malnutrition risk of tumor patients during the peri-radiotherapy period: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Background Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) play a critical role in improving radiotherapy’s clinical outcomes. This study assessed the correlation between knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on ONS and malnutrition risk of tumor patients during the peri-radiotherapy period. Methods This was a multicenter cross-sectional survey in Shandong, China. The tumor patients during the peri-radiotherapy period completed a KAP questionnaire. Univariable / multivariable logistic regression analyses of nutritional status were performed. Results A total of 1737 valid questionnaires were collected, including 231 questionnaires before radiotherapy, 1038 questionnaires during radiotherapy, and 468 questionnaires after radiotherapy. The proportion of patients receiving professional nutrition education is low. The majority of patients still use inappropriate ways to improve their nutritional status. Education level was positively associated with KAP score according to the multiple logistic analysis. Patients with higher education level got higher KAP score. We also analyzed the correlation between clinical variables and malnutrition risk. Gender, age, education level and treatment types were associated with malnutrition. Furtherly, we analyzed the correlation between KAP score and malnutrition risk. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the significant association between KAP score and malnutrition risk. Higher KAP score was associated with low malnutrition risk. Conclusions KAP on ONS during the peri-radiotherapy period was significant associated with malnutrition risk of tumor patients. The improvement of patients’ KAP score could decrease the risk of malnutrition. We strongly recommend strengthening patients’ malnutrition education, the standardization of nutrition management, and the enhancement of clinical nutrition quality control. Trial registration number: ChiCTR1800019983