Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41572075›Full record

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

Impact of COVID-19 on early identification of protein-energy malnutrition in the cancer care setting: a repeated cross-sectional survey of cancer care professionals.

Marianne Boll Kristensen, Megan Crichton, Wolfgang Marx, Tateaki Naito, Egidio Del Fabbro, Elizabeth Isenring, Skye Marshall

Abstract read
In one paragraph

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.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Marianne Boll KristensenDepartment of Nutrition, Gødstrup Hospital, Herning, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7307-7215
Megan CrichtonCancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1273-5368
Wolfgang MarxDeakin University, IMPACT (the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation), Food & Mood Centre, Geelong, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8556-8230
Tateaki NaitoCancer Supportive Care Center, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Nagaizumi, Shizuoka, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4047-2929
Egidio Del FabbroMedical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1245-6307
Elizabeth IsenringCancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4478-9707
Skye MarshallCancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia. skye.marshall@deakin.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8953-5068

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeWhat are the perceptions and practices regarding protein energy malnutrition (PEM) screening and assessment for patients with cancer among health professionals working in the cancer setting, and how have these perceptions and practices changed since the COVID-19 pandemic?

methodsA repeated cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 (pre-COVID-19) and 2024 (post-COVID-19) using a study-specific online 24-item questionnaire. Qualified health professionals working as clinicians in the cancer setting were eligible. The survey was disseminated via professional associations internationally. Data were analysed in Stata/MP 18.5.

resultsOf N = 282 participants included (n = 197 pre-COVID-19, n = 85 post-COVID-19), most were dietitians (39%) from Oceania (29%). The reporting of workplace nutrition screening policies increased between pre- and post-COVID-19, especially in North America (56% to 100%, p = 0.013). Barriers to nutrition screening remained consistent pre- and post-COVID-19 except in North America where limited awareness increased (50% to 93%, p = 0.019) and in Oceania where there was a decrease in incorrect use of a screening tool (63% to 36%, p = 0.027). Nutrition screening and assessment implementation remained mostly unchanged, except for an increase in patient self-screening (15% to 28%; p = 0.029) and fewer non-admission assessments conducted in Oceania.

conclusionWhile some positive changes were observed between the pre- and post-COVID-19 period, nutrition screening and assessment continue to face many barriers. This has led to a lack of improvement or decline in nutrition screening and assessment practices in most regions and settings. PEM identification must evolve to ensure early detection for best patient care and in preparedness for future global health events.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PersonnelNeoplasmsProtein-Energy MalnutritionAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMass ScreeningMiddle AgedNutrition AssessmentSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesCOVID-19Health servicesNeoplasmsNutritional assessmentNutrition screeningProtein-energy malnutrition

Identifiers

PMID41572075
PMCPMC12827316

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.