Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41530637›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

Implementing an evidence-based model of pre-operative nutrition care in patients undergoing oral cavity reconstruction surgery for head and neck cancer: a feasibility study.

Shane McAuliffe, Sarah Davies, Masako Dunn, Kathryn White, Judith D Bauer, Jonathan Clark, Merran Findlay

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Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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

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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

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Shane McAuliffeDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia. shane.mcauliffe@lh.org.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7166-4299
Sarah DaviesDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-8124-6203
Masako DunnDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6379-2621
Kathryn WhiteCancer Care Research Unit, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4763-1734
Judith D BauerDepartment of Nutrition, Dietetics & Food, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3830-5147
Jonathan ClarkDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1209-772X
Merran FindlayDepartment of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6964-1533

Funding

Cancer Institute NSW 2021/CBG003Cancer Institute NSW CINSW 2020/2081National Health and Medical Research Council 2024602
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMalnutrition is prevalent in patients undergoing reconstruction surgery for head and neck cancer (HNC), impacting negatively on outcomes. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines (EBGs), evidence-practice gaps persist. This study examined the feasibility of implementing a pre-operative, nutrition evidence-based care pathway (EBCP).

methodsThis mixed-methods, pre-post study included a retrospective audit (Jan-Dec 2023) and prospective pilot implementation of a pre-operative, supportive care-led clinic (Oct 2024-Jan 2025). Nutrition care processes (referrals, malnutrition screening, and nutrition assessment with validated tools) were benchmarked against Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) EBGs. Secondary analysis examined associations with clinical outcomes (complications, length of stay (LOS), and readmissions). Multidisciplinary team (MDT) engagement informed the EBCP, guided by the Action, Actor, Context, Target, Time (AACTT) Implementation Framework.

resultsPre- (n = 115, 56% male, mean (SD) age 62 (15) years) and post-implementation (n = 41, 64% male, 62 (14) years) cohorts were included. Pre-operative nutrition care processes all improved following EBCP implementation, including referrals (64% vs. 95%, p < 0.001) and malnutrition screening (91% vs. 98%, p = 0.14). False negative screening reduced (22% vs. 10%, p = 0.13) and median time from screening to surgery increased (0 vs. 5 days, < 0.001). Nutrition assessment with a validated tool increased (13% vs. 80%, p < 0.001). Survey responses pre- (n = 11) and post- (n = 8) implementation indicated improved perception of the service and fewer barriers to screening and assessment following ECBP implementation.

conclusionImplementation of a pre-operative nutrition EBCP is feasible, improves adherence to evidence-based nutrition care for patients with HNC, and has the potential to improve patient outcomes. This model may be transferrable to other areas of cancer care.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsMalnutritionPlastic Surgery ProceduresPreoperative CareAgedAustraliaFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansLength of StayMaleMiddle AgedNutrition AssessmentPatient Care TeamPilot ProjectsProspective StudiesClinical practice guidelineHead and neck cancerImplementation scienceMalnutritionReconstructive surgery

Identifiers

PMID41530637

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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 OpenQuestion graph.