Dietary Events for Social Activity in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Cancer Patients

Takashi Aoyama, Saori Yamanashi, Ayako Yamada, Moeri Ikeda, Mariko Mori, Yuko Tsuneishi, Kyoko Nishimoto, Misako Tsuchiya, Miho Hasaba and Keiko Abe

Background and Objectives: The role of social activities through dietary events in pediatric patients, adolescents and young adults remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the composition of participants in patient-led dietary events and to evaluate the importance of social activities among children, adolescents and young adults. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, the number of dietary events held was assessed, targeted number of hospitalized patients, number of participating hospitalized patients (the participation rate was based on these results), participant’s characteristics (sex, age; children: Age 0-14 years, adolescent and young adults: Age 15-39 years), frequency of dietary events in which pediatric and adolescent and young adult patients participated together, number of families that participated, number of staff members that participated and number of outpatients between January, 2013 and October, 2017. Results: One hundred and fifty-five patients participated in the meal events (84 males, age 9 [1-31 years]). The median number of events attended per patient was 2 (1-18). Sixty-six dietary events were hosted; 430 (93.9%) out of 458 targeted patients participated and 92% of events had both pediatric and adolescent and young adult patients participating, with no statistical difference (p = 0.136). A total of 398 families and 237 staff participated. Conclusion: Patient-led dietary events for children, adolescent and young adult patients with cancer had a high socialization rate, without any differences based on age; this may serve as a social activity for patients.

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