Experiences and Needs Regarding Anti-Inflammatory Dietary Management in Sarcopenia Care: A Qualitative Study from a...

Sarcopenia is a prevalent geriatric syndrome, and nutritional intervention plays an important role in its prevention and management. In recent years, anti-inflammatory dietary strategies have received increasing attention in clinical guidelines; however, their awareness, implementation, and support needs in real-world care settings remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the lived experiences and practical challenges of anti-inflammatory dietary management in sarcopenia care from a multi-stakeholder perspective, providing evidence for the development of continuous nutritional management strategies.

A descriptive qualitative study design was adopted. Using purposive and snowball sampling, semi-structured interviews were conducted with older adults with and without sarcopenia, as well as relevant care professionals, across three care settings: hospitals, long-term care facilities, and communities. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and the identified themes were theoretically interpreted using the COM-B model and the Integrated Care Rainbow Model.

A total of 63 participants were enrolled, including 35 older adults and 28 staff members. Five overarching themes were ultimately extracted: (1) Dietary management is influenced by setting structure and support systems; (2) The importance of diet is widely recognized, yet specialized knowledge remains weak; (3) Anti-inflammatory dietary management is constrained by inadequate intake and multiple implementation barriers; (4) Cross-setting dietary management exhibits fragmented transitions and insufficient continuous care mechanisms; and (5) Respondents expect more concrete, individualized, and continuous support.

Anti-inflammatory dietary management among older adults with sarcopenia is influenced by multidimensional factors related to individual capability, environmental opportunity, and behavioral motivation. Translating anti-inflammatory dietary recommendations into routine care practice requires enhancing individuals' dietary management capacity, strengthening supportive care environments, and establishing cross-setting continuous nutritional support pathways. Future intervention studies are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of such strategies.