New Food Solutions for Cancer Patients

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Taste Disorders; Cancer Patients; Food Selection
• Interventions: Behavioral: Texture-modified foods for cancer patients (Stage 2); Behavioral: Taste-optimised foods for cancer patients (Stage 3)

• Registration Number: NCT04302792
• Lead Sponsor: University of Reading

Brief Summary

The ONCOFOOD project aims to design and develop new innovative food solutions for cancer patients, taking into account not only their nutritional requirements but also their sensory changes, promoting eating pleasure and preventing malnutrition. Research involving cancer patients but also their families and health care professionals is a key element of this approach to ensure the success of the developed products for the target group.

Detailed Description

The study will be divided into three stages: in Stage 1, individual interviews will be conducted with present and past cancer patients, focus groups with families/care givers of cancer patients and health care professionals (cancer specialist nurses, clinical and medical oncologists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, oncology social workers and counselors). The interviews will help collect data and gain understanding on the needs of cancer patients, barriers to current food proposals and expectations from new solutions. In subsequent stages, semi-quantitative studies will be conducted with cancer patients that require texture-modified foods (Stage 2) and patients with taste \& smell alterations (Stage 3). Patients will be required to evaluate texture-modified products (developed using 3D food printing technology) and taste-optimised products (i.e. soups, mousses, fruit and vegetable beverages, dairy desserts and seasonings) developed based on the results obtained from Stage 1 above.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-02-28
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-03-06
• Study First Posted: 2020-03-10
• Study Start: 2020-06-09
• Primary Completion: 2020-12-31
• Study Completion: 2020-12-31
• Status Verified: 2021-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-06-11
• Last Update Posted: 2021-06-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 88

Inclusion Criteria

1. Stage 1

   1. Group A - Patients

      • Adults 18-65 years old.
      • Currently undergoing oncological treatment or have undergone oncological treatment in the last 12 months.
      • Patients that require or have required texture-modified foods and/ or experience or have experienced taste & smell alterations in the last 12 months.

   2. Group B - Relatives and caregivers

      • Over 18 years old.
      • Relative or caregiver of an adult oncological patient (that require texture-modified foods and/ or experience taste & smell alterations).
      • Living/caring for someone that is currently undergoing or have undergone oncological treatment.
      • Participates actively in cooking and buying food for a household of which the person currently undergoing oncological treatment is a member.

   3. Group C - Healthcare professionals

      • Dietitians, speech and language therapists, medical/clinical oncologists, cancer specialist nurses, and oncology social workers and counselors.
      • Minimum of a year's experience with oncological patients that require texture-modified foods and/or having taste & smell alterations.

2. Stage 2

   • Adults 18-65 years old.
   • Currently undergoing oncological treatment or have undergone oncological treatment in the last 12 months and require or have required texture-modified foods in the last 12 months.
   • Individuals without dietary allergies or intolerances to the foods that will be tested in the study.

3. Stage 3

   • Adults 18-65 years old.
   • Currently undergoing oncological treatment or have undergone oncological treatment in the last 12 months and are experiencing or have experienced taste & smell alterations in the last 12 months.
   • Individuals without dietary allergies or intolerances to the foods that will be tested in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals below 18 years old will be excluded from the study.
• Individuals with dietary intolerances or allergies to the foods that will be tested in the study (Stages 2 and 3 only).
• Individuals who do not have the ability or capacity to consent.
• Individuals who are nil by mouth or have nasal gastric tubes of other feeding tubes inserted.
• Individuals who need modified solid and liquid diets due to problems with swallowing (Stage 3 only).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Stage 2: Texture-modified foods for cancer patients	Texture-modified foods for cancer patients (Stage 2)	The study will involve conducting a tasting trial over a 2-weeks period where participants will be required to consume a maximum of three 3D printed texture-modified food based on the findings from Stage 1 and evaluate the food product by completing a structured questionnaire. Key questions areas covered by the questionnaire include appetite, sensory characteristics of the product (taste, flavour, mouthfeel/texture and smell), liking and acceptability, purchase intent and best place to buy the products; questions will involve rating scales as well as qualitative comments.
Stage 3: Taste-optimised foods for cancer patients	Taste-optimised foods for cancer patients (Stage 3)	The study will involve conducting a home test over a one-month period where participants will be required to consume taste-optimised products based on the findings from Stage 1 and evaluate the food product by completing a structured questionnaire. Key questions areas covered by the questionnaire include appetite, sensory characteristics of the product (taste, flavour, mouthfeel/texture and smell), liking and acceptability, purchase intent and best place to buy the products; questions will involve rating scales as well as qualitative comments.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Acceptability of developed texture-modified food 1	1 hour on Stage 2 visit day 1	Acceptability of texture-modified food 1 using a questionnaire. Participants will be asked to rate their liking of appearance, aroma, taste, texture and overall using a 9-point hedonic scale where 1 is "dislike extremely" and 9 is "like extremely". They will also be asked to indicate their preference in comparison to usual products using a 5-point scale where 1 is "I much preferred this product to my usual products" and 5 is "I much prefer my usual products to this one". They will be asked to indicate whether they would buy this product using a 5-point scale where 1 is "definitely would buy" and 5 is "definitely would not buy".
Acceptability of developed texture-modified food 2	1 hour on Stage 2 visit day 2	Acceptability of texture-modified food 2 using a questionnaire. Participants will be asked to rate their liking of appearance, aroma, taste, texture and overall using a 9-point hedonic scale where 1 is "dislike extremely" and 9 is "like extremely". They will also be asked to indicate their preference in comparison to usual products using a 5-point scale where 1 is "I much preferred this product to my usual products" and 5 is "I much prefer my usual products to this one". They will be asked to indicate whether they would buy this product using a 5-point scale where 1 is "definitely would buy" and 5 is "definitely would not buy".
Acceptability of developed texture-modified food 3	1 hour on Stage 2 visit day 3	Acceptability of texture-modified food 3 using a questionnaire. Participants will be asked to rate their liking of appearance, aroma, taste, texture and overall using a 9-point hedonic scale where 1 is "dislike extremely" and 9 is "like extremely". They will also be asked to indicate their preference in comparison to usual products using a 5-point scale where 1 is "I much preferred this product to my usual products" and 5 is "I much prefer my usual products to this one". They will be asked to indicate whether they would buy this product using a 5-point scale where 1 is "definitely would buy" and 5 is "definitely would not buy".
Acceptability of developed taste-optimised food 3	1 hour on Stage 3 visit day 3	Acceptability of taste-optimised food 3 using a questionnaire. Participants will be asked to rate their liking of appearance, aroma, taste, texture and overall using a 9-point hedonic scale where 1 is "dislike extremely" and 9 is "like extremely". They will also be asked to indicate their preference in comparison to usual products using a 5-point scale where 1 is "I much preferred this product to my usual products" and 5 is "I much prefer my usual products to this one". They will be asked to indicate whether they would buy this product using a 5-point scale where 1 is "definitely would buy" and 5 is "definitely would not buy".
Acceptability of developed taste-optimised food 1	1 hour on Stage 3 visit day 1	Acceptability of taste-optimised food 1 using a questionnaire. Participants will be asked to rate their liking of appearance, aroma, taste, texture and overall using a 9-point hedonic scale where 1 is "dislike extremely" and 9 is "like extremely". They will also be asked to indicate their preference in comparison to usual products using a 5-point scale where 1 is "I much preferred this product to my usual products" and 5 is "I much prefer my usual products to this one". They will be asked to indicate whether they would buy this product using a 5-point scale where 1 is "definitely would buy" and 5 is "definitely would not buy".
Acceptability of developed taste-optimised food 2	1 hour on Stage 3 visit day 2	Acceptability of taste-optimised food 2 using a questionnaire. Participants will be asked to rate their liking of appearance, aroma, taste, texture and overall using a 9-point hedonic scale where 1 is "dislike extremely" and 9 is "like extremely". They will also be asked to indicate their preference in comparison to usual products using a 5-point scale where 1 is "I much preferred this product to my usual products" and 5 is "I much prefer my usual products to this one". They will be asked to indicate whether they would buy this product using a 5-point scale where 1 is "definitely would buy" and 5 is "definitely would not buy".

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Food diary	7 consecutive days	Record of all that is eaten or drunk and any problems encountered during/after eating from cancer patients and relatives/caregivers of cancer patients.
Interviews	1 hour session on Stage 1 visit day 1	Discussion on food related issues faced by cancer patients requiring texture-modified diets / having taste \& smell alterations via interviews.
Focus group	2 hour session on Stage 1 visit day 3	Discussion on food related issues faced by cancer patients requiring texture-modified diets / having taste \& smell alterations with healthcare professionals of cancer patients via a focus group session.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Sensory Science Centre, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading; 🇬🇧 Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom