Surgeons' approach toward clinical nutrition: A survey-based study

Area of Science:

• Surgical Nutrition
• Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Postoperative complications are often linked to poor nutritional status in surgical patients.
• Malnutrition in surgical wards frequently goes unrecognized and untreated.
• Surgeons' current practices regarding nutritional assessment and intervention require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess surgeons' attitudes towards nutritional screening and support.
• To identify gaps in current surgical practice regarding clinical nutrition.

Main Methods:

• A 13-question survey was emailed to 1500 surgeons.
• Responses were analyzed using cross-query methods.

Main Results:

• A 20.9% response rate was achieved.
• While 89.5% of respondents perform nutritional screening, only 24.6% screen all patients.
• Timely initiation of nutritional support (preoperatively) was reported by only 25.5%, with limited adherence to evidence-based practices for fasting and immunonutrition.

Conclusions:

• Surgeons' awareness and knowledge of clinical nutrition require enhancement.
• Continuous professional development is crucial for improving adherence to nutrition guidelines and optimizing patient care.