A patient undergoing radiation treatment for laryngeal cancer has developed xerostomia and mucositis, leading to an imbalance in nutritional intake.
What is the most likely reason for this issue?

Choice A rationale

Determining the amount of weight the patient has lost since increasing activity is relevant to the patient’s overall health and progress toward weight loss goals, but it does not directly address the issue of sleep difficulties. Weight loss and improved sleep may not always have a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Choice B rationale

Inquiring about the patient’s exercise schedule is a reasonable action. It allows the nurse to gather information about the patient’s exercise routine and assess whether it might be contributing to the sleep difficulties. For instance, exercising too close to bedtime can interfere with sleep. Therefore, understanding the timing and intensity of the patient’s exercise can provide valuable insights into potential adjustments that could improve sleep quality.

Choice C rationale

Informing the patient that lifestyle changes often take several weeks to be effective is a general statement that might not address the specific concerns of the patient. While it’s true that lifestyle changes, including exercise, can take time to show results, this does not provide a targeted solution to the patient’s reported difficulty in falling asleep.

Choice D rationale

Encouraging the patient to exercise daily to reduce bedtime wakefulness is not appropriate advice in this scenario. It oversimplifies the issue and may not address the underlying causes of the patient’s sleep difficulties. Additionally, excessive exercise close to bedtime may actually interfere with sleep.

Choice A rationale

While altered taste sensation can occur with radiation treatment, it’s not the most likely reason for an imbalance in nutritional intake in this scenario.

Choice B rationale

Fatigue can be a side effect of radiation treatment, but it’s not the primary reason for an imbalance in nutritional intake in this case.

Choice C rationale

Pain during eating is the most likely cause of imbalanced nutritional intake in this scenario. The patient’s laryngeal cancer and the development of mucositis indicate that eating is likely painful for them. This discomfort can significantly deter the patient from eating, leading to decreased nutritional intake.

Choice D rationale

Nausea can occur with radiation treatment, but it’s not the primary reason for an imbalance in nutritional intake in this case.