Implementing nutritional guidelines -- the effect of systematic training for nurse nutrition practitioners

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nutrition Science
• Patient Care

Background:

• Hospital malnutrition affects approximately 40% of admitted patients.
• Implementing nutritional guidelines is crucial for reducing malnutrition incidence.
• Effective implementation necessitates comprehensive staff education and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a staff training program's impact on identifying eating difficulties.
• To assess improvements in patients' nutritional knowledge and intake.
• To reduce the risk of patient undernutrition through targeted interventions.

Main Methods:

• A pre- and post-test design was employed to assess training effectiveness.
• A 1-year training program with five modules integrated nutritional and implementation theories.
• Experimental learning theories and the 'look, think, act' model guided the training.

Main Results:

• Post-training, patients more frequently discussed eating issues and received meal assistance.
• Patients reported improved ability to chew and receive ordered food.
• Enhanced patient knowledge of menu choices indicated improved nutritional intake.

Conclusions:

• A strategy rooted in experimental learning and the 'look, think, act' model effectively implemented nutritional guidelines.
• The training program positively influenced staff behavior and patient nutritional status.
• This approach offers a viable model for improving hospital nutrition care.