Inadequate Nutrition Coverage in Outpatient Cancer Centers: Results of a National Survey

Table 1

Outpatient oncology RDN staffing patterns.

RDN staffing	Frequency (%) or mean ± SD^a	Range
Is there a dedicated RDNs for outpatient oncology services at your facility? (n = 188)
Yes	94.1 (177)	—
No	5.9 (11)	—
How many years has your facility employed dedicated RDNs for outpatient oncology?
All centers (n = 159)	10.4 ± 8.2	0–49
NCI-designated cancer centers (n = 35)	14.2 ± 8.2	1–30
Non-NCI-designated cancer centers (n = 124)	9.3 ± 7.9	0–49
RDN FTE and analytic cases	Mean ± SD^a	Range
How many RDN full-time equivalents (FTEs) are currently working in any outpatient oncology service?
Total for All centers (n = 199)	1.7 ± 2.0	0–16.6
Total for NCI-Designated cancer centers (n = 41)	3.1 ± 3.0	0.025–16.6
Total for non-NCI-designated cancer centers (n = 158)	1.3 ± 1.4	0–9.2
How many RDN full-time equivalents (FTEs) are currently working in each outpatient oncology service?^b (n = 199)
Medical oncology (n = 184)	1.0 ± 1.5	0–12.6
Radiation oncology (n = 171)	0.6 ± 0.6	0–4.0
Infusion (n = 86)	0.3 ± 0.5	0–2.7
How many new analytic cases were seen at your center in the most recent year for which data are complete?
All centers (n = 128)	2,073 ± 1,991	0–9,351
NCI-designated cancer centers (n = 25)	4,297 ± 2,427	30–9,351
Non-NCI-designated cancer centers (n = 103)	1,533 ± 1,429	0–7,200
RDN-to-patient ratios	Ratio	Range
All centers (n = 124)	1 : 2,308	1 : 0–1 : 53,100^c
NCI-designated cancer centers (n = 25)	1 : 3,587	1 : 10–1 : 47,960
Non-NCI-designated cancer centers (n = 99)	1 : 1,984	1 : 0–1 : 53,100^c

^aDue to incomplete data and branching logic, the total number of responses varies by question. The total number of complete responses per question is provided next to each response in-line. Percentages are based upon the number of responses out of the total number answering the question. Means and standard deviations are calculated using only complete responses. ^bRespondents are allowed to select more than one service, as many centers offer all or a combination of these services. ^cTo derive RDN-to-patient ratio. The analytic patient cases were divided by RDN FTEs individually for each center that provided both data points. One center reported having a RDN but no analytic cases (1 : 0). RDN = Registered Dietician Nutritionist; NCI = National Cancer Institute.