Overview

The Implementation Toolkit provides practical resources and guidance to support the implementation into practice of the recommendations in the COSA position statement on cancer-related malnutrition and sarcopenia.

Project Details

Published in August 2020, the COSA Cancer-related Malnutrition and Sarcopenia Position Statement outlines the role of health professionals and health services in recognising and treating patients with cancer-related malnutrition and sarcopenia, with a focus on practice tips.

The toolkit is intended for use by clinicians and health services to train clinicians, develop the services required, and advocate for resources to support optimal management of cancer-related malnutrition and sarcopenia.

Implementation Toolkit: Stage 1

Funded through an education grant from Abbott Australasia, Stage 1 of the toolkit commenced in August 2023 with Project Lead, Jane Stewart (Clinical Lead Dietitian at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre) supported by Jenelle Loeliger, the Nutrition Group Executive and the Project Steering Group.

Stage 1 addressed the screening and assessment recommendations in the position statement.

In December 2023, working groups commenced the content design including case studies, care pathway, templates for local adaptation, instructional videos and other resources.

The toolkit resources were iteratively developed and refined over several workshops with working group members and clinicians. The toolkit then underwent usability and acceptability testing via an end-user review with multidisciplinary clinicians from across Australia. The toolkit was further refined based on feedback from the review.

Stage 1 of the toolkit was officially launched at the COSA ASM in November 2024 and is freely available on the COSA website, Implementation Toolkit.

Implementation Toolkit Stage 2

Abbott Australasia has also provided an education grant to fund Stage 2 of the Implementation Toolkit. Stage 2 will involve finalising content for the Role of the Multidisciplinary Team in recognising malnutrition and sarcopenia to facilitate timely referrals and treatment, and the creation of a new instructional video for the PG-SGA.

Work on Stage 2 commenced in early May 2025 and will continue over 12 months.

The Project Dietitian, Jane Stewart is supported by Project Lead, Jenelle Loeliger and the COSA Nutrition Group Executive, plus a talented multidisciplinary Steering Committee.

Please contact jane.stewart@petermac.org for details.

Implementation Toolkit Stage 3

The final stage of the project will involve a full evaluation.