Nourishing Hope: The Impact of Nutrition in Cancer Treatment and Recovery in Maine
Yale University
Summary
The primary objective of this study is to determine the effect of a 6-month pilot randomized controlled trial of medically tailored grocery delivery plus nutrition counseling vs. medically tailored grocery delivery alone vs. standard of care (with delayed grocery delivery alone) among 100 individuals with any stage and type cancer who reside in Maine on change in diet quality from baseline to 6-months. The secondary objective is to assess the benefits of the intervention on change from baseline to 6-months on self-reported healthcare utilization (e.g., hospitalizations, emergency room visits), malnutrition, cancer-treatment related symptoms, food insecurity, quality of life, and financial toxicity. We will also evaluate feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in the target population.
Description
The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of a 6-month intervention of medically tailored groceries plus nutrition counseling vs. medically tailored groceries alone vs. standard of care on diet and health outcomes among 100 cancer survivors who reside in Maine. This project will be conducted in partnership with the Christine B. Foundation which has been delivering medically tailored groceries to cancer survivors in Maine since 2020, but has not yet evaluated the impact of this nutrition program on important health outcomes in people living with cancer. The eligibility criteria matched…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older * Ever been diagnosed with cancer * Reside Hancock, Penobscot, Washington or Piscataquis county in Maine for the next 6 months Exclusion Criteria: * Seeing a dietitian regularly (at least once every two weeks) * Planned long-term inpatient cancer treatment * Receiving nutrition via IV also known as total parenteral nutrition * Getting nutrition through a feeding tube * Drinking more than 3 bottles of liquid meal replacements, such as Ensure, per day * Received grocery delivery or grocery (not produce only) pick-up from the Christine B. Foundati…
Interventions
- BehavioralMedically Tailored Grocery Plus Nutrition Counseling Group
Weekly delivery of medically tailored groceries plus 8 remote nutritional counselling sessions.
- BehavioralExperimental: Medically Tailored Grocery Group
Weekly delivery of medically tailored groceries.
- BehavioralStandard of Care Group with Delayed Medically Tailored Grocery Delivery
Option to pick up fresh produce weekly from participating clinics. Medically tailored grocery delivery will be available for 6 months beginning at the end of the study.
Location
- Yale School of Public HealthNew Haven, Connecticut