Evaluating an enteral nutrition formulary

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Health Care Management

Background:

• Enteral nutrition is crucial for hospitalized patients, necessitating effective formulary management.
• Current practices in enteral nutrition formulary management among US health care facilities are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey registered dietitians regarding their practices in enteral nutrition formulary management.
• To identify key criteria and motivating factors in the selection and evaluation of enteral nutrition formulas.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 200 registered dietitians within the Clinical Nutrition Management Dietetic Practice Group.
• A 74% response rate was achieved, with participants from typical private, nonprofit, acute-care facilities (201-500 beds).

Main Results:

• Dietetic departments primarily handle procurement, preparation, and distribution of enteral nutrition formulas, while physicians initiate orders.
• Over 75% of facilities use enteral nutrition formularies, with 95% of dietitians deeming objective evaluation criteria important.
• Osmolarity, lactose content, and product availability were the most critical evaluation criteria; cost-containment was a major driver for criteria development.

Conclusions:

• Objective criteria are essential for effective enteral nutrition formulary management, balancing patient needs with cost-effectiveness.
• The study provides foundational data for developing a model to guide health care professionals in enteral formulary decision-making.