AIM: The aim of this study is to revisit the concept of malnutrition in older people, trace the new development and test the use of refined framework with empirical data. BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in older people is a common and significant problem worldwide. Continuing Chen's earlier work in 2001, a refinement was conducted and a prospective study was designed to test the use of this refined framework. DESIGN: A cohort study of 114 hospitalized older patients in Northern Taiwan. METHODS: The sample consists of 114 older patients aged 65 years and older, who were admitted for the cardiac and orthopaedic services at a tertiary 2300-bed hospital. From March to August 2004, assessed by one trained nurse, participants completed a structured face-to-face interview evaluating their age, visual/hearing impairments, oral health, cognitive status, comorbidities, medication use, social economic status, functional status, social support, depressive symptoms and nutritional status within 48 hours of admission. Participants who stayed >5 days were reassessed before discharge (n = 70). The data from admission were the main focus of this report. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that that more medication taken, female gender, lower functional status (beta = 0.34, P < 0.001) and higher depressive symptoms were independent predictors of poor nutritional status, with the full model accounting for 48.2% of the variance. The result is in-line with the original theoretical underpinnings and it suggests that this refined framework detailing sub-concepts and measurable indices appears to fit the empirical data and suitable for clinical use. CONCLUSION: The findings lend support to the use of this framework in managing malnutrition in older people. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses have an essential role in providing care for older people a framework like this would provide a road map guiding the intervention efforts.
AIM: The aim of this study is to revisit the concept of malnutrition in older people, trace the new development and test the use of refined framework with empirical data. BACKGROUND:Malnutrition in older people is a common and significant problem worldwide. Continuing Chen's earlier work in 2001, a refinement was conducted and a prospective study was designed to test the use of this refined framework. DESIGN: A cohort study of 114 hospitalized older patients in Northern Taiwan. METHODS: The sample consists of 114 older patients aged 65 years and older, who were admitted for the cardiac and orthopaedic services at a tertiary 2300-bed hospital. From March to August 2004, assessed by one trained nurse, participants completed a structured face-to-face interview evaluating their age, visual/hearing impairments, oral health, cognitive status, comorbidities, medication use, social economic status, functional status, social support, depressive symptoms and nutritional status within 48 hours of admission. Participants who stayed >5 days were reassessed before discharge (n = 70). The data from admission were the main focus of this report. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed that that more medication taken, female gender, lower functional status (beta = 0.34, P < 0.001) and higher depressive symptoms were independent predictors of poor nutritional status, with the full model accounting for 48.2% of the variance. The result is in-line with the original theoretical underpinnings and it suggests that this refined framework detailing sub-concepts and measurable indices appears to fit the empirical data and suitable for clinical use. CONCLUSION: The findings lend support to the use of this framework in managing malnutrition in older people. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses have an essential role in providing care for older people a framework like this would provide a road map guiding the intervention efforts.