Co-designed Nutritional Training Program for Oncology Nurses in Vietnam (NUTRI-NURSE-VN)

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a co-designed nutritional training program for oncology nurses in Vietnam. The intervention was developed using a co-design approach involving patients, nurses, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals to ensure relevance, feasibility, and cultural appropriateness.

The study employed a single-group pre-post intervention design and was conducted at a tertiary teaching hospital in Vietnam. A convenience sample of oncology nurses participated in the training program. The intervention consisted of a three-day training workshop, including theoretical education on cancer-related nutrition and supervised clinical practice sessions. During the clinical component, nurses applied their knowledge in real patient interactions under supervision, using a structured checklist to guide nutritional assessment and counselling.

Following the training, nurses delivered nutritional support to patients with cancer experiencing treatment-related symptoms, including gastrointestinal and oral complications affecting dietary intake. The intervention focused on symptom-based dietary management strategies, practical counselling techniques, and patient-centered communication.

The primary outcomes were changes in nurses' knowledge and self-confidence in providing nutritional support, measured before and after the training program. Secondary outcomes included nurses' clinical practice performance, assessed using a standardized observational checklist, and the acceptability of the intervention among both nurses and patients.

Patient participants received nutritional support as part of routine care delivered by trained nurses. Acceptability was assessed one week after the intervention using a structured questionnaire to evaluate perceived usefulness, clarity, and applicability of the dietary guidance.

This study provides preliminary evidence on the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of a nurse-led, co-designed nutritional training program. The findings support the role of oncology nurses in delivering structured nutritional care and highlight the potential for integrating such interventions into routine clinical practice, particularly in resource-constrained settings.