Nutrition Informatics Applications in Clinical Practice: a Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Informatics
• Clinical Nutrition
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Nutrition care and metabolic control are crucial for patient outcomes.
• Biomedical informatics offers potential improvements in nutrition management quality and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review clinical decision support and computerized provider order entry systems for nutrition care.
• To identify the impact of these informatics applications on patient outcomes and provider performance.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of online research databases and bibliographies.
• Selection of 16 studies out of 364 by four independent reviewers.
• Analysis of applications in adult/neonatal nutrition support, blood glucose management, and other nutrition areas.

Main Results:

• Computerized interventions demonstrated potential for improved patient outcomes and provider performance.
• Specific improvements included enhanced nutrient delivery, reduced malnutrition rates, better weight management, and optimized blood glucose values.
• Computer systems also led to increased clinician efficiency and reduced error rates.

Conclusions:

• Informatics applications in clinical nutrition show promise for enhancing patient care and operational efficiency.
• Further rigorous research is recommended to investigate the impact of informatics on nutritional and performance outcomes.