Application of integrated Chinese and Western medicine in nutritional management of cancer patients: A qualitative study of the views of healthcare professionals

Shihua Liu¹Guijiao Lin¹Xiangyu Peng²Xinlei Wu¹Weina Wang¹Jiayi Lin¹Liu Yang^1*Yanjuan Lin^3*

• ¹Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
• ²Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated People’s Hospital, FuZhou, China
• ³Fujian Medical University Concord Hospital, uzhou, China

Background: Malnutrition is highly prevalent among cancer patients and significantly impairs recovery and treatment outcomes. In China, Integrative Chinese–Western Nutritional Management (ICWNM) has gained increasing attention from healthcare professionals (HCPs) and has been progressively applied in oncology care. Nevertheless, the experiences of HCPs involved in implementing this integrative approach remain largely unexplored. Objective: To explore the experiences, challenges, and coping strategies of HCPs involved in ICWNM, with the goal of generating insights to strengthen clinical practice and inform policy development. Design: A qualitative study employing a phenomenological approach was conducted. Participants: Sixteen HCPs—including six physicians, seven nurses, and three dietitians— with practical experience in oncology nutrition management were purposively recruited until data saturation was achieved. Methods: Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and anonymized. The data were analyzed using Colaizzi' s seven-step phenomenological approach, followed by inductive thematic analysis to identify and refine themes and subthemes. Analytical rigor was ensured through independent dual coding and member checking. Results: Four overarching themes and eight subthemes were identified: (1) Professional Fulfillment Coexisting with Stress, with subthemes of Professional Identity and Self-Efficacy and Workload and Cognitive Pressure; (2) Dual Challenges of Theoretical and Practical Competence, with subthemes of Limitations of Individual Learning and Peer Sharing and Urgent Need for Systematic Professional Training; (3) Patient Adherence as an Important Link in Nutritional Management, with subthemes of Multiple Factors Influencing Adherence and The Impact of Adherence on Clinical Outcomes; and (4) Expectations for Clinical Application of ICWNM, with subthemes of Building a Clinical System Integrating Standardization and Individualization and Promoting Sustainable Development through Technological, Policy, and Economic Synergy. Conclusion: HCPs experience a sustained cognitive–emotional tension that is shaped by the coexistence of professional fulfillment and practical constraints. The study proposes an integrated analytical framework linking HCPs (cognition–emotion), patients (adherence), and system (support) to elucidate the dynamic interactions between professional agency, patient behavior, and institutional environments. Establishing a comprehensive supportive ecosystem integrating standardized policy frameworks, technology-enabled tools, and sustainable economic incentives is crucial for enhancing the quality, feasibility, and sustainability of ICWNM in clinical practice.