Donald R Duerksen1, Heather H Keller2, Elisabeth Vesnaver3, Manon Laporte4, Khursheed Jeejeebhoy5, Hélène Payette6, Leah Gramlich7, Paule Bernier8, Johane P Allard9. 1. Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada duerksn@cc.umanitoba.ca. 2. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada. 3. Department of Family Relations & Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada. 4. Clinical Nutrition Department, Vitalité Health Network, Campbellton, New Brunswick. 5. St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada. 6. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada. 7. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. 8. Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec. 9. University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Given the high prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients, nurses frequently encounter patients with significantly impaired nutrition status. The objective of this study was to determine nurses' attitudes and perceptions regarding the prevalence, detection, and causes of malnutrition in Canadian tertiary care and community hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive study, a survey that focused on guidelines for nutrition support of hospitalized patients was completed by Canadian nurses working on medical and surgical wards in 11 hospitals participating in the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force study. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 346 of 723 nurses (response rate 48%). Over 50% of nurses underestimated the documented prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients. Nurses considered identification of malnourished patients very relevant (mean 8.4 on a 10-point scale) and would integrate a 3-question nutrition screen into their admission histories (92.5%). Nurses perceived lack of assistance with eating as a significant contributor to hospital malnutrition (17% felt this was a major contributor). While only 39% of nurses reported access to nutrition-related education, 92% were interested in receiving this form of updating. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses consider nutrition assessment important and relevant and require access to training to improve their capacity to detect malnutrition in their patients. Nurses are vital to the nutrition care of hospitalized patients and are well positioned to screen for nutrition risk and assist in nutrition management. The role of nurses in nutrition care needs to be linked to hospital policy.
OBJECTIVES: Given the high prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients, nurses frequently encounter patients with significantly impaired nutrition status. The objective of this study was to determine nurses' attitudes and perceptions regarding the prevalence, detection, and causes of malnutrition in Canadian tertiary care and community hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this descriptive study, a survey that focused on guidelines for nutrition support of hospitalized patients was completed by Canadian nurses working on medical and surgical wards in 11 hospitals participating in the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force study. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 346 of 723 nurses (response rate 48%). Over 50% of nurses underestimated the documented prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients. Nurses considered identification of malnourished patients very relevant (mean 8.4 on a 10-point scale) and would integrate a 3-question nutrition screen into their admission histories (92.5%). Nurses perceived lack of assistance with eating as a significant contributor to hospital malnutrition (17% felt this was a major contributor). While only 39% of nurses reported access to nutrition-related education, 92% were interested in receiving this form of updating. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses consider nutrition assessment important and relevant and require access to training to improve their capacity to detect malnutrition in their patients. Nurses are vital to the nutrition care of hospitalized patients and are well positioned to screen for nutrition risk and assist in nutrition management. The role of nurses in nutrition care needs to be linked to hospital policy.
Authors: M Laporte; H H Keller; H Payette; J P Allard; D R Duerksen; P Bernier; K Jeejeebhoy; L Gramlich; B Davidson; E Vesnaver; A Teterina Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr Date: 2014-12-17 Impact factor: 4.016
Authors: Andrea P Marshall; Tahnie Takefala; Lauren T Williams; Alan Spencer; Laurie Grealish; Shelley Roberts Journal: Int J Nurs Sci Date: 2019-03-11