TABLE 1.

Detailed information on gastrostomy placement and the presence of a gastrostomy placement protocol at the thirteen participating Dutch Head and Neck Oncology centres

Respondent number	Gastrostomy placement	Selection criteria for gastrostomy placement	Protocol with indications
1	Reactive	Based on weight loss ≥10% and intake <50%	Yes
2	Prophylactic upon indication and reactive	Prophylactic based on criteria: very low BMI, large tumour, dysphagia. Reactive in case of severe complications during treatment and if nasogastric tube is not possible. Reactive often after CRT treatment	No
3	Prophylactic upon indication	If tumour is localised in oropharynx, oral cavity or nasopharynx. If tumour is localised elsewhere, it is based on insufficient intake and weight loss	Yes
4	Reactive	If nasogastric tube is not possible or not tolerated	No
5	Prophylactic upon indication and reactive	Prophylactic on indication in case of treatment with cisplatin, reactive if enteral nutrition is necessary (but then nasogastric tube is used instead of PEG/PRG)	No
6	Prophylactic upon indication and reactive	—	No
7	Prophylactic upon indication and reactive	No clear indicators, but at least 10% weight loss before treatment and dysphagia at baseline	No
8	Prophylactic (in all patients)	All patients receive a PEG/PRG tube prophylactic, unless it is not possible due to comorbidity. In that case, a nasogastric tube will be placed reactive	Yes
9	Prophylactic upon indication	If nutritional status is insufficient before start of CRT treatment	No
10	Prophylactic upon indication	In case of a primary tumour in oral cavity or oropharynx and/or bilateral neck irradiation	No
11	Prophylactic upon indication	If the physician expects that swallowing problems will be minimal (5% of the cases), a PEG or PRG tube is not placed prophylactic. In other cases, PEG or PRG tubes are placed before the treatment starts	Yes
12	Prophylactic (in all patients)	Prophylactic placement in almost every patient, except if there are contraindications or if the patients does not want a PEG or PRG tube. If the PEG tube is not placed prophylactic and tube feeding is needed in the last weeks of CRT, it will be provided via nasogastric tubes	Yes
13	Prophylactic upon indication	When at least one of the following applies: (1) T3/T4 tumour in oral cavity, oropharynx or hypopharynx; (2) nasopharyngeal tumour; (3) bilateral neck irradiation; (4) weight loss >5% in one month or >10% in three months; (5) low BMI (<18.5 or <20 when age >65 years); (6) dysphagia with insufficient intake	Yes