A new study found that doctors training to treat cancer patients aren’t getting enough education about nutrition and how to help patients who aren’t eating well. Researchers surveyed 135 cancer doctors-in-training from 17 universities and discovered that most didn’t receive proper training on nutrition care. The study shows that malnutrition—when patients don’t get enough nutrients—affects up to 80% of cancer patients and can make their treatment less effective. The researchers say cancer training programs need to teach doctors more about nutrition so they can better help their patients stay healthy during cancer treatment.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether cancer doctors-in-training are learning enough about nutrition and how to help patients who aren’t eating well or losing weight during cancer treatment
- Who participated: 135 cancer doctors who are still in training (residents) from 17 different universities. They ranged from first-year to fifth-year trainees, with most being early in their training.
- Key finding: Only about 26% of the doctors received specific lessons on nutrition during their training, and most doctors (84.5%) scored poorly on nutrition knowledge questions, getting only 34-66% correct. However, nearly all doctors (98.5%) agreed that learning nutrition is important.
- What it means for you: If you or a loved one is being treated for cancer, it may be helpful to ask your doctor about nutrition support or request to see a nutrition specialist, since many cancer doctors may not have received complete training in this area. This doesn’t mean your doctor isn’t good—it just means nutrition education in cancer training needs improvement.
The Research Details
Researchers created a survey with 42 questions about nutrition in cancer care and sent it to cancer training programs across 17 universities. The survey asked doctors-in-training about their education, what they do in their daily work with patients, and their attitudes toward nutrition. A total of 135 doctors completed the anonymous survey, which is about 55% of all the doctors they invited. The questions covered topics like how to check if a patient is malnourished, what nutrition support methods exist, and how much they learned about these topics during their training.
This research is important because it shows what doctors are actually learning versus what they should be learning. By understanding the gaps in training, medical schools can improve their programs. Since malnutrition affects so many cancer patients and can make treatment less effective, making sure doctors understand nutrition is a key part of improving cancer care.
This study is a survey-based research, which means it captures what doctors report about their training and knowledge at one point in time. The response rate was good (about 55%), which makes the results more reliable. However, surveys depend on people’s honest answers, and doctors might not always remember their training perfectly or might answer differently than they would act in real situations. The study doesn’t measure whether doctors actually use nutrition knowledge with their patients, only what they say they know.
What the Results Show
The survey revealed significant gaps in nutrition education for cancer doctors-in-training. Only 25.9% reported receiving specific lessons on clinical nutrition, though 60% learned about malnutrition and 48.9% learned about artificial feeding methods. When doctors were tested on their nutrition knowledge, the results were concerning: only 13.3% answered more than two-thirds of the questions correctly. Most doctors (84.5%) scored in the middle range (34-66% correct), and a small group (2.2%) scored very poorly (below 33% correct). This suggests that even though doctors learned some nutrition topics, they may not have understood them deeply enough to apply them well in patient care.
The study also found differences in how nutrition care is actually provided in cancer departments. In only about one-third of departments (34.3%) do doctors routinely check if patients are malnourished. In most departments (63.5%), they only check if the patient already looks malnourished or is clearly not eating well. When doctors do assess nutrition, about half the time an oncologist does it (53.7%) and half the time a nutrition specialist does it (43.4%). For feeding support, oncologists prescribed oral supplements (drinks and shakes) in 41.9% of cases and intravenous feeding in 53% of cases. Despite these gaps, nearly all doctors (98.5%) agreed that oncologists should have basic nutrition knowledge.
This study adds to existing research showing that nutrition is often overlooked in cancer care. Previous studies have shown that malnutrition in cancer patients is common and harmful, but many cancer doctors don’t receive adequate training. This survey confirms that the problem is widespread across multiple training programs and suggests that nutrition education is not a priority in most cancer training curricula. The findings align with international recommendations that call for better nutrition training in oncology.
This study only surveyed what doctors reported about their training and knowledge—it didn’t observe whether they actually use this knowledge with patients. The survey was anonymous, which is good for honest answers but means researchers couldn’t follow up with individual doctors. The study was done at one point in time, so it doesn’t show how nutrition education has changed over the years. Additionally, the sample came from 17 universities, which may not represent all cancer training programs worldwide, particularly in different countries with different healthcare systems.
The Bottom Line
Cancer patients should ask their medical team about nutrition support and consider requesting a consultation with a nutrition specialist (moderate confidence). If you’re undergoing cancer treatment, discuss your eating habits and weight changes with your doctor, as early intervention can help maintain strength and improve treatment outcomes. Healthcare systems should prioritize adding comprehensive nutrition education to cancer training programs (high confidence based on the study’s findings).
Cancer patients and their families should care about this research because it shows that nutrition support may not be automatically offered. Healthcare administrators and medical schools should care because it identifies a gap in training that affects patient care quality. Oncologists should care because the study confirms they agree nutrition is important but may need additional education. People at risk for cancer should care because good nutrition during treatment is preventive care.
If you’re a cancer patient receiving nutrition support, you may notice improvements in energy levels and appetite within 2-4 weeks. Better nutrition can help you tolerate treatment better and maintain muscle mass, but these benefits develop gradually over weeks to months. For healthcare systems, implementing better nutrition education would take 1-2 years to develop curricula and train instructors, with benefits appearing as new doctors graduate with better knowledge.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily food intake and weight weekly. Use the app to log meals, snacks, and drinks consumed, then monitor whether weight stays stable or changes. Share this data with your doctor or nutrition specialist to guide treatment decisions.
- Set a goal to discuss nutrition with your cancer care team at your next appointment. Use the app to prepare questions about: (1) whether you should see a nutrition specialist, (2) if you need nutritional supplements, and (3) what foods to eat or avoid during treatment.
- Use the app to track three key metrics monthly: (1) body weight, (2) energy level (1-10 scale), and (3) ability to eat normal meals. Share these trends with your healthcare team to catch nutrition problems early and adjust your care plan if needed.
This research describes gaps in nutrition training for cancer doctors, not a specific medical treatment. If you have cancer or are undergoing cancer treatment, consult with your oncologist and healthcare team about your individual nutrition needs. Do not make changes to your diet or treatment based on this research alone. A registered dietitian or nutrition specialist can provide personalized recommendations for your specific situation. This study shows that nutrition education needs improvement, but it does not mean your current doctor is inadequate—it means the healthcare system should provide better training overall.