ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Assessing nutritional status and delivering optimal nutritional care is a part of modern day treatment of children with cancer. The nutritional practices in India for these children have not been previously described. AIMS: To describe the existing nutrition assessment and management practices for children with cancer in India. METHODS: Attendees of the First International Society of Pediatric Oncology‑Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries workshop on nutrition in children with cancer organized in September 2014 at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India were invited to complete a self‑administered questionnaire related to three domains: nutritional assessment, intervention, and education. RESULTS: Hundred and eight respondents from 42 health institutions and background in the health sector participated in the survey. There was variability in nutritional assessment, practice and education. Lack of resources and time are contributory. CONCLUSIONS: This assessment of nutritional services in India provided useful information to plan development of national guidelines, policy, and delivery of services.
ABSTRACT
<B>Introduction</B><BR>This study was undertaken to identify needs of training and educational materials on international nutrition by career stage.<BR><B>Methods</B><BR>Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and a questionnaire survey were conducted in September and October 2008. In FGD, the participants were divided into three groups; undergraduate students who can potentially be involved in future nutrition activity for international cooperation (“students”), graduate students in international health or young workers involved in international cooperation through researches or programs on nutrition (“young”), and the experts who have worked for international nutrition cooperation (“experienced”). The results of FGD and questionnaire survey were categorized using the modified KJ methods.<BR><B>Results</B><BR>The numbers of FGD participants were two for “students”, four for “young” and seven for “experienced”. The questionnaires were completed by 119 undergraduate students. The specific issues they expected to learn in the field of international health and nutrition were the current situation in developing countries for the “students” and the process to identify the specific problems for the “young” and “experienced” The skills they would like to acquire were English proficiency for the “students” and “young” and understanding of the working fields as well as communication skills for the “young” and “experienced”. As for the necessary experience to get a job of international cooperation, working experience as a dietitian in Japan was stated by all groups. Additionally, the “young” mentioned overseas experience and the “experienced” suggested adaptability to different cultures as well as interpersonal skills.<BR><B>Conclusions</B><BR>This study identified communication skills as the needs common to all groups, while different needs were also identified by one›s career stage; especially educational needs among the “students” and training needs among the “young” and “experienced”. It is urgently required to develop training and educational materials on international nutrition that would meet the needs of each career stage.