Self-Monitoring Mobile Dietary Application Promote Nutritional Therapy Adherence for Breast Cancer Surgical Patient: Case Series

Ho Chiou Yi1, Norshariza Jamhuri1, Ban Zhen Hong2
1. Department of Dietetic and Food Service, National Cancer Institute, Putrajaya
2. Faculty of Engineering, Xiamen University Malaysia, Sepang, Selangor

Assessment: Nutritional therapy adherence ensures adequate energy and protein intake to promote recovery post-operatively. Self-monitoring mobile dietary application, Intelligent Dietitian Support Apps, iDSA, was innovated to assist cancer patient to monitor own dietary intake at home in order to improve nutritional therapy adherence and enhance recovery. Dietitian entered estimated energy protein requirement into iDSA. Daily dietary intake was recorded by click-on pre-set food category and portion size accordingly. Total energy and protein intake was calculated automatically and displayed in achievement level with motivation phase. Patient monitored dietary intake and took correction action to optimise oral intake based on dietitian recommendation in food guide screen. Patients, A, B and C diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent right mastectomy with mean age 42.3 11.2 years old. Prior to admission, patients experienced one month weight loss 5.1%, 3.2% and 2.4% respectively.

Diagnosis: Unintentional weight loss related to inadequate oral intake as evidenced by weight loss history.

Intervention: High protein high calories diet was implemented. Upon discharged, patients installed iDSA and instructed to record and monitor own daily dietary intake.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Patients were followed up by dietitian after two weeks. Patients complied to iDSA and gained in weight 4%, 1.4% and 1.8%; achieved adequate energy intake of 94%, 90% and 97% and adequate protein intake of 97%, 92% and 95% from requirement respectively. Discussion: Self-monitoring mobile dietary application, iDSA, enable patient to monitor own dietary intake and then modify on dietary intake in order to achieve requirement. Digital dietetics and technology with self-monitoring mobile dietary application assisted cancer patients to self-monitor daily dietary intake, increase nutritional therapy adherence, optimise nutritional status and promote recovery after surgery. As conclusion, High compliance on smartphone application (iDSA) promotes nutritional therapy adherence, achieves adequate energy protein intake and speed up wound healing.