Loss of appetite: a poetic exploration of cancer patients’ and their carers’ experiences

Meeting the differing needs of palliative care patients with loss of appetite and their carers is challenging. It demands a thorough assessment of symptoms, an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and of the role food plays in society. An understanding of the experience of loss of appetite is essential to the provision of appropriate care and support to those affected by it. The study demonstrated that, although unusual, poetic transcriptions can be an effective method of presenting data in terms of acceptability to participants and communicating their experience to others.