Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
Shelley Roberts
Griffith University, Australia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nutr Food Sci
Nutrition is vital for health and recovery of hospitalized patients. It is also important for prevention of adverse events such as pressure ulcers and falls. This randomized control pilot study assessed feasibility of conducting a larger trial to test the effectiveness of a patientcentered intervention for improving dietary intakes of at-risk hospitalized patients. A three-day intervention targeting patients with reduced mobility was developed. It included patient education, patient participation in nutrition care (by self monitoring intake) and guided nutritional goal setting. The intervention was piloted in three wards in a metropolitan hospital in Queensland, Australia. Participants were randomized into control or intervention groups and oral intakes were monitored. A subset of intervention patients was interviewed on their perceptions of the intervention. Feasibility was tested against three criteria: ΓΆΒ?Β¥75% recruitment; ΓΆΒ?Β¥80% retention; ΓΆΒ?Β¥80% intervention fidelity. Secondary outcomes related to effects on energy and protein intakes and patient acceptability. Eighty patients participated in the study and 66 were included in final analysis. The recruitment rate was 82%; retention rate 88% and 100% of intervention patients received the intervention. Intervention patients viewed it as educational, motivating and empowering and met significantly more of their estimated energy and protein requirements over time. This pilot study indicates that an intervention encouraging patient participation in nutrition care is feasible and acceptable by patients with reduced mobility. A larger trial is needed to confirm the effectiveness of the intervention in the clinical setting and future work might incorporate use of new technologies to engage patients in nutrition care.
Email: s.roberts@griffith.edu.au