Artificial nutrition support in hospitals in the United Kingdom - 1991: Second national survey

Objective - to determine current clinical practice of nutrition support in hospitals in the UK and to determine whether there have been any apparent changes in practices since 1988. Design - An 81 question survey about enteral and parenteral nutriton was sent to all District Dietitians registered with the British Dietetic Association. Information was collected additionally from pharmacists and clinicians. Results - 61.2% of questionnaires distributed were completed and returned. 32.5% of respondents had access to nutrition support teams, compared with 27% in 1988. The documentation of usage of nutrition support was poor, only 33% being able to accurately quantify administation of enteral nutrition, and 53% parenteral nutrition. Since 1988 the number of respondents using peripheral parenteral nutrition had doubled to 15%. Those using percutaneous gastrostomies had increased from 6% to 74%. Those using respiratory enteral diet formulations had quadrupled to 33%. There have been no other apparent major changes in nutrition support practice in the UK, in the last 3 years. Conclusions - Despite increasing awareness about the role of artificial nutrition support, and the value of Nutrition Support Teams there has been little or no progress in the provision or monitoring of support in the last 3 years. This has important implications when considering audit of such practices.