S Wong1, F Derry, G Grimble, A Forbes. 1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, London, UK. Samford.Wong@ucl.ac.uk
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: A multi-centre, cross-sectional survey. OBJECTIVES: To establish and compare the resources allocated against existing national standards, and to document current nutritional screening practices. SETTING: Spinal cord injury centres (SCICs) in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. METHODS: After obtaining research ethics committee approval, 12 SCICs in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland were surveyed by a postal questionnaire. Data collected included the number of whole time equivalent (WTE) staff available, whether a nutrition team was present and the use of nutritional screening tools in the SCIC. RESULTS: Eleven (92%) SCICs responded. In total there were 482 allocated beds, and the average numbers of patients per WTE staff (s.d.), including consultants, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists, were recorded. Eight centres used a nutritional screening tool, and only two centres had a clinical nutrition team. CONCLUSION: The resources allocated to nutritional care in SCICs appear to be very limited. This suggests that malnutrition will continue to be under-recognised and under-treated. There is a clear need for additional resources to address the nutritional needs of this special population group. Each SCIC should ensure regular access to nutritional advice, and the establishment of local nutrition support teams should be a priority.
STUDY DESIGN: A multi-centre, cross-sectional survey. OBJECTIVES: To establish and compare the resources allocated against existing national standards, and to document current nutritional screening practices. SETTING:Spinal cord injury centres (SCICs) in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. METHODS: After obtaining research ethics committee approval, 12 SCICs in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland were surveyed by a postal questionnaire. Data collected included the number of whole time equivalent (WTE) staff available, whether a nutrition team was present and the use of nutritional screening tools in the SCIC. RESULTS: Eleven (92%) SCICs responded. In total there were 482 allocated beds, and the average numbers of patients per WTE staff (s.d.), including consultants, nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists, were recorded. Eight centres used a nutritional screening tool, and only two centres had a clinical nutrition team. CONCLUSION: The resources allocated to nutritional care in SCICs appear to be very limited. This suggests that malnutrition will continue to be under-recognised and under-treated. There is a clear need for additional resources to address the nutritional needs of this special population group. Each SCIC should ensure regular access to nutritional advice, and the establishment of local nutrition support teams should be a priority.
Authors: S Wong; J van Middendorp; M Belci; I van Nes; E Roels; É Smith; S P Hirani; A Forbes Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2014-09-30 Impact factor: 2.772