Eating Experience at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Wards - a Qualitative Study

In hospitalized patients with cancer treated with systemic therapy, semi-structured in-depth interviews will be performed. Topics that will be discussed are eating-related complaints, the taste and smell of the offered hospital food, the choice in hospital food, the ambience during the eating moments, the use of protein-enriched snacks, the difference between eating at home and at the hospital, and personal tips-and-tricks to maintain adequate nutritional intake and improve food enjoyment in the hospital. Patients will be included until data saturation is reached. The interviews will be recorded and analyzed according to the principles of thematic analysis.

Inclusion Criteria:Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of cancerAble to understand spoken and written Dutch> 18 yearsSystemic treated for cancer in a clinical settingExclusion Criteria:Contra-indication for oral food intakeOral food intake perceived as painful by patientUncertainty about the willingness or ability of the patient to comply with the protocol requirements