Cancer patients often struggle to take nutritional supplements that doctors recommend to help them stay healthy during treatment. Researchers talked to 14 cancer patients about why they skip these drinks. They found three main reasons: personal beliefs and side effects, how patients manage their health day-to-day, and outside factors like cost and hospital support. The study shows that helping patients take these supplements requires addressing all three areas—fixing wrong ideas about the drinks, teaching patients how to handle side effects, making the products taste better, reducing costs, and making sure hospitals help patients even after they leave.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Why cancer patients don’t take their prescribed nutritional supplement drinks, even though these drinks help them stay strong during cancer treatment
  • Who participated: 14 cancer patients who had been prescribed oral nutritional supplements (special drinks designed to provide extra nutrition) as part of their cancer care
  • Key finding: Three main barriers stop patients from taking these supplements: personal factors (wrong beliefs about the drinks, bad side effects, not feeling confident they can do it), daily behavior patterns (how they manage health information and cope with treatment), and outside problems (the drinks don’t taste good, they cost too much, and hospitals don’t follow up with patients after they go home)
  • What it means for you: If you’re a cancer patient prescribed these supplements, knowing these common barriers might help you stick with them. Doctors and hospitals may need to do more to help patients succeed—like explaining the supplements better, helping with costs, and checking in after treatment ends. This is still a small study, so more research is needed.

The Research Details

Researchers used a qualitative study design, which means they focused on understanding people’s experiences and reasons rather than just counting numbers. They interviewed 14 cancer patients one-on-one using semi-structured interviews, which is like a conversation with planned questions but room for patients to share their own thoughts. They recorded and analyzed what patients said to find common themes and patterns.

The researchers used a framework called Social Cognitive Theory, which explains that people’s choices are influenced by three things: what they think and feel (personal factors), what they actually do day-to-day (behavioral factors), and their surroundings (environmental factors). This framework helped organize their findings into these three categories.

Thematic analysis was used to find the main ideas that came up repeatedly in the interviews. This method helps researchers spot patterns without forcing the data into predetermined categories.

This research approach matters because it goes deeper than just asking ‘Did you take your supplements?’ Instead, it asks ‘Why didn’t you take them?’ and really listens to patients’ stories. Previous studies mostly used surveys with yes/no answers, which miss the complicated, personal reasons why patients struggle. Understanding the real-world challenges patients face helps doctors and hospitals create better solutions.

This study has both strengths and limitations. Strengths: The researchers used a recognized framework (Social Cognitive Theory) to organize their findings, which makes the results more reliable. They used a systematic method (thematic analysis) to find patterns. The small sample size (14 patients) is actually appropriate for this type of in-depth qualitative research. Limitations: With only 14 patients, the findings may not apply to all cancer patients everywhere. The study doesn’t tell us how common each barrier is. The researchers don’t mention if they checked their findings with patients or other researchers to verify accuracy.

What the Results Show

The study identified three major categories of barriers to taking nutritional supplements:

Personal Factors: Patients had wrong ideas about the supplements (like thinking they’re only for very sick people or that they cause weight gain). Some patients experienced side effects like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea when drinking the supplements. Many patients didn’t feel confident they could stick with taking them regularly.

Behavioral Factors: Patients managed health information differently—some actively looked for information while others didn’t. They used different coping strategies during cancer treatment, and their willingness to take supplements changed depending on what stage of treatment they were in. Some patients were more motivated at the beginning of treatment but gave up later.

Environmental Factors: The supplements didn’t taste good or had textures patients didn’t like. Cost was a major problem—many patients couldn’t afford to keep buying them, and insurance didn’t always cover them. After patients left the hospital, doctors didn’t follow up to see if they were still taking the supplements or help them solve problems.

The research showed that adherence isn’t just one problem—it’s complicated and changes over time. Patients who felt more confident (had higher ‘self-efficacy’) were more likely to keep taking supplements even when it was hard. The relationship between patients and their healthcare team mattered a lot. Patients who felt supported and understood were more likely to stick with treatment. The study also showed that one-size-fits-all approaches don’t work—different patients needed different kinds of help.

Earlier research mostly used surveys to count how many patients took their supplements and asked simple questions about why they didn’t. This study goes much deeper by actually listening to patients’ stories. Previous studies identified some of the same barriers (like cost and side effects), but this research shows how all three areas—personal, behavioral, and environmental—work together. It also highlights that the problem changes as patients go through different stages of cancer treatment, which earlier studies didn’t emphasize as much.

The study only included 14 patients, so the findings may not apply to all cancer patients. We don’t know if these patients were similar to or different from other cancer patients. The study doesn’t tell us how many patients had each type of barrier or which barriers are most important. We don’t know if the researchers’ own beliefs influenced how they interpreted what patients said. The study was done in one location, so results might be different in other countries or healthcare systems. Finally, the researchers didn’t ask patients to review their findings to confirm they were accurate.

The Bottom Line

If you’re a cancer patient prescribed nutritional supplements: (1) Talk to your doctor about side effects—there may be ways to reduce them or different products to try (moderate confidence); (2) Ask about financial assistance programs or generic versions that cost less (moderate confidence); (3) Set reminders or link taking supplements to daily habits like meals (moderate confidence); (4) Ask your healthcare team to check in with you after you leave the hospital (moderate confidence). For healthcare providers: Use multiple strategies to help patients—education about supplements, help managing side effects, addressing costs, and follow-up care after hospital discharge (moderate confidence based on this small study).

Cancer patients who have been prescribed nutritional supplements should care about this research. Family members and caregivers supporting cancer patients should also pay attention. Healthcare providers, doctors, nurses, and hospital administrators should use these findings to improve how they support patients taking supplements. Insurance companies and policymakers should consider whether current coverage of supplements is adequate. This research is less relevant for people without cancer or those not prescribed supplements.

Improvements in adherence could happen fairly quickly—within weeks if barriers like side effects are addressed or if patients get better information. However, building confidence and changing habits typically takes 4-8 weeks. Long-term success (staying on supplements for months) requires ongoing support from healthcare providers and addressing financial barriers, which may take longer to solve.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily supplement intake with a simple yes/no checklist, and note any side effects experienced (nausea, taste issues, etc.). This helps identify patterns and shows which barriers are most problematic for you personally.
  • Set a daily reminder linked to a meal (like breakfast or lunch) to take your supplement at the same time each day. Use the app to log which time of day works best for you and which product tastes better, then share this information with your healthcare team.
  • Over 4 weeks, track your adherence percentage and any barriers you encounter. Share monthly summaries with your doctor to identify which problems need solving (side effects, cost, taste, motivation). Use the app to note which strategies help you stick with supplements and which don’t work for you.

This research describes why cancer patients may struggle to take prescribed nutritional supplements. It is based on interviews with 14 patients and should not replace medical advice from your doctor. If you are a cancer patient prescribed nutritional supplements, talk to your healthcare team before making any changes to your treatment plan. If you experience side effects or have concerns about taking supplements, contact your doctor or oncology nurse immediately. This study provides insights into common barriers but does not guarantee that addressing these barriers will work the same way for everyone. Always consult with your medical team about what’s best for your individual situation.