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Taste Alterations Study

Effects of Patient Education and Self-Management in Cancer Patients Who Experience Chemotherapy-Induced Taste Alterations

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Medical diagnosis of cancer with types limited to the top cancer types \[Note: Cancer types that are rare will be excluded\]
* Initiating chemotherapy (first day/first cycle) at participating clinics
* English speaking/reading (without an interpreter)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Substitute decision-maker (activated)
* History of head/neck cancer or irradiation
* Known genetic/metabolic disorder impacting taste (preexisting dysgeusia)
* Known eating disorder
* Receiving enteral or parenteral nutrition (special nutritional needs)
* Pregnant women (unique needs)
* Patients with medical orders for end of life/hospice care

About the study

The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does completing a standard assessment increase the detection of chemotherapy induced taste changes compared with usual care (no assessment)? What TA are experienced? Are there any patterns in TA symptom occurrence based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, cancer type, chemotherapy agent, etc. 2. Do patients take action to deal with the TA? What strategies are used? Do patients in the intervention group use the assessments to select interventions? 3. Do the interventions lessen TA symptoms and maintain food intake? Is the treatment (in-depth assessment and education) more effective in lessening the intensity of TA than usual care? Which level of assessment is needed to support symptom management to reduce symptom severity?

Participants will:

Complete baseline assessment before starting their initial chemotherapy infusion (all patients) Participate in baseline patient education based on assigned intervention (usual care vs. treatment) Engage in TA management between chemotherapy infusion clinic visits based on education Visit the clinic for chemotherapy infusions as scheduled; Complete TA assessments and reporting based on intervention; Work with nurse coaches to answer questions and help with the intervention.

Complete study data collection on the 4th chemotherapy cycle (but continue intervention) Complete final data collection at 6 months

What is being tested

• Taste Alteration Self-Assessment (behavioral)
• Taste Alternation Self-Management (behavioral)

Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Participants: 400 · Started: Dec 1, 2024

Contact the study team

• Mary L Hook, PhD, RN · Phone: 414-218-0990

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06669416

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 1, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.