Special features

Anorexia-cachexia syndrome — Improving the patient experience

By Inga Andrew, MRPharmS, DipClinPharm, Colette Hawkins MRCP, MBBS, Kerry Waterfield MRCP, MBBS, Graeme Kirkpatrick MRPharmS, DipClinPharm and Stephen Williams RGN, BSc

A pharmacist-led multidisciplinary group from Durham are investigating whether standardised management and assessment strategies can improve the care of cancer patients with anorexia-cachexia syndrome. This article describes their work

This article as a PDF (50K)

Inga Andrew is Macmillan senior clinical pharmacist

Colette Hawkins is consultant in palliative medicine

Kerry Waterfield is staff grade in palliative medicine

Graeme Kirkpatrick is deputy chief pharmacist

all at University Hospital of North Durham, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

Stephen Williams is Macmillan development manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, York.

Leaflets designed by Jane Hopkinson, Macmillan research unit

Patient leaflets

Patient leaflets form part of the Durham Macmillan Cachexia Pack

SUMMARY

There are a number of obstacles to the effective management of anorexia-cachexia syndrome (ACS). These include inconsistency in assessment and management of patients at risk and considerable variability in understanding of the syndrome among health care staff.

In January 2005 the University Hospital of North Durham, part of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, secured funding from Macmillan Cancer Support to explore ways of improving the experience of ACS for patients with cancer.

A Macmillan senior clinical pharmacist was appointed to run the project with the support of a consultant in palliative medicine.

The project involved:

• A review of staff understanding of ACS

• An audit of the symptoms experienced by patients and the drugs prescribed for them

• A new protocol for the management of patients with ACS

• Development of a cachexia resource pack

Full text article PDF (50K)