Encouraging, assisting and time to EAT: Improved nutritional intake for older medical patients receiving Protected Mealtimes and/or additional nursing feeding assistance
Author(s)
Young, Adrienne M
Mudge, Alison M
Banks, Merrilyn D
Ross, Lynda J
Daniels, Lynne
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2013
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background & aims: Inadequate feeding assistance and mealtime interruptions during hospitalisation may contribute to malnutrition and poor nutritional intake in older people. This study aimed to implement and compare three interventions designed to specifically address mealtime barriers and improve energy intakes of medical inpatients aged 65 years. Methods: Preepost study compared three mealtime assistance interventions: PM: Protected Mealtimes with multidisciplinary education; AIN: additional assistant-in-nursing (AIN) with dedicated meal role; PM IN: combined intervention. Dietary intake of 254 patients (pre: n ...
View more >Background & aims: Inadequate feeding assistance and mealtime interruptions during hospitalisation may contribute to malnutrition and poor nutritional intake in older people. This study aimed to implement and compare three interventions designed to specifically address mealtime barriers and improve energy intakes of medical inpatients aged 65 years. Methods: Preepost study compared three mealtime assistance interventions: PM: Protected Mealtimes with multidisciplinary education; AIN: additional assistant-in-nursing (AIN) with dedicated meal role; PM IN: combined intervention. Dietary intake of 254 patients (pre: n 젱15, post: n 젱41; mean age 80 8) was visually estimated on a single day in the first week of hospitalisation and compared with estimated energy requirements. Assistance activities were observed and recorded. Results: Mealtime assistance levels significantly increased in all interventions (p < 0.01). Post-intervention participants were more likely to achieve adequate energy intake (OR 젳.4, p 젰.01), with no difference noted between interventions (p 젰.29). Patients with cognitive impairment or feeding dependency appeared to gain substantial benefit from mealtime assistance interventions. Conclusions: Protected Mealtimes and additional AIN assistance (implemented alone or in combination) may produce modest improvements in nutritional intake. Targeted feeding assistance for certain patient groups holds promise; however, alternative strategies are required to address the complex problem of malnutrition in this population.
View less >
View more >Background & aims: Inadequate feeding assistance and mealtime interruptions during hospitalisation may contribute to malnutrition and poor nutritional intake in older people. This study aimed to implement and compare three interventions designed to specifically address mealtime barriers and improve energy intakes of medical inpatients aged 65 years. Methods: Preepost study compared three mealtime assistance interventions: PM: Protected Mealtimes with multidisciplinary education; AIN: additional assistant-in-nursing (AIN) with dedicated meal role; PM IN: combined intervention. Dietary intake of 254 patients (pre: n 젱15, post: n 젱41; mean age 80 8) was visually estimated on a single day in the first week of hospitalisation and compared with estimated energy requirements. Assistance activities were observed and recorded. Results: Mealtime assistance levels significantly increased in all interventions (p < 0.01). Post-intervention participants were more likely to achieve adequate energy intake (OR 젳.4, p 젰.01), with no difference noted between interventions (p 젰.29). Patients with cognitive impairment or feeding dependency appeared to gain substantial benefit from mealtime assistance interventions. Conclusions: Protected Mealtimes and additional AIN assistance (implemented alone or in combination) may produce modest improvements in nutritional intake. Targeted feeding assistance for certain patient groups holds promise; however, alternative strategies are required to address the complex problem of malnutrition in this population.
View less >
Journal Title
Clinical Nutrition
Volume
32
Issue
4
Subject
Nutrition and dietetics
Nutrition and dietetics not elsewhere classified