RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: We set out to see if nutritional assessment(management)using MUST could be useful for patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 197 patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy between June 2010 and November 2010. The results of MUST, serum albumin levels, and nutritional intervention were investigated. RESULTS: High- and medium-risk patients requiring nutritional therapy was comprised of 17/78 breast cancer(21. 8%), 16/63 hematologic malignancy(25. 4%), and 26/56 colonic cancer(46. 4%)patients.Moreover, the serum albumin level in high- and medium-risk patients was likely to decrease compared to low-risk patients, suggesting the usefulness of MUST. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It is important to assess nutritional status focusedon simplicity, objectivity, andspeedin outpatient chemotherapy. Assessment of patients' nutritional status and cancer treatment compliance are expected to be improved using MUST.