Multidisciplinary Sarcopenia Care During Chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia in older adults receiving chemotherapy contributes to functional decline, fatigue, and poor clinical outcomes. LOCAL PROBLEM: Baseline audits at a regional hospital in Taiwan identified fragmented sarcopenia care, with program enrollment and 12-week program completion rates of 16.0% and 33.0%, respectively. METHODS: This quality improvement project used iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention included a nurse practitioner-coordinated multidisciplinary sarcopenia care pathway, sarcopenia risk screening, individualized nutrition and exercise support, and structured digital follow-up. RESULTS: Program enrollment and 12-week program completion rates increased to 80.0% and 72.0%, respectively. Run-chart analysis showed improvement in the chemotherapy-related sarcopenia outcome, with the observed incidence decreasing from 50.0% during early implementation to 37.0% during the maintenance phase. Fatigue and quality of life also improved. CONCLUSION: A nurse practitioner-coordinated multidisciplinary sarcopenia care pathway can be successfully integrated into routine oncology care and may improve nursing care quality.