Experiences and needs related to perioperative nutritional management among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A...

To explore the lived experiences and needs of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) regarding perioperative nutritional management.

This descriptive phenomenological study used purposive maximum-variation sampling at a national medical center in Shanghai, China. Thirty-three patients with HCC (17 preoperative and 16 postoperative) each completed one semi-structured interview between June and September 2025. Recruitment continued until data saturation. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method.

Four themes were identified: lack of nutritional management awareness, pressing needs for support, navigating practical challenges, and active engagement in nutritional self-management. Participants described limited understanding, reliance on professional guidance, conflicting advice, unappealing hospital food, financial and emotional burdens, and different levels of involvement in nutritional decisions and self-management.

Interpreted through Self-Efficacy Theory, the findings suggest that confidence may influence how patients engage with perioperative nutritional care. Clear, individualized guidance and support for patient participation warrant evaluation in future interventional studies.