Implementing best practice in hospital multidisciplinary nutritional care: an example of using the...

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Knowledge Translation
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Frameworks like knowledge translation and implementation science enhance healthcare practice improvements.
• The Canadian Malnutrition Task Force (CMTF) exemplifies knowledge creation and application through a series of studies.
• A consensus-based pathway for hospital nutritional care was developed following evidence synthesis on malnutrition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the research program steps, utilizing the knowledge-to-action (KTA) process.
• To showcase the iterative application of the KTA process through four distinct studies.
• To demonstrate the creation, adaptation, and implementation of an evidence-informed nutritional care pathway.

Main Methods:

• The KTA process involved iterative knowledge creation and action cycles across four studies.
• Studies focused on identifying malnutrition prevalence, developing care pathways, and assessing implementation barriers.
• Methods included evidence synthesis, focus groups, interviews, and plan-do-study-act cycles for pathway adaptation and implementation.

Main Results:

• Study 1 identified the undetected and undertreated nature of hospital malnutrition.
• Studies 2 and 3 led to an evidence-based nutritional care pathway and monitoring tools.
• Studies 2 and 4 involved adapting the pathway to local contexts and assessing barriers, with ongoing implementation and sustainability planning.

Conclusions:

• Frameworks facilitate meaningful and sustainable improvements in healthcare practices.
• This research demonstrates using evidence to create, adapt, and implement knowledge via multidisciplinary teams.
• The KTA process effectively facilitates implementation and promotes sustainability in nutritional healthcare.