Patient-Led, Technology-Assisted Malnutrition Risk Screening in Hospital: A Feasibility Study

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nutrition
• Health Informatics
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Malnutrition risk screening is vital in hospitals but often has suboptimal rates.
• Current screening methods may not be fully efficient or cost-effective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of patient-led, technology-assisted malnutrition risk screening.
• To compare this novel approach against current screening practices.

Main Methods:

• A prospective multi-methods study involving patient-led electronic Malnutrition Screening Tool (e-MST) completion on bedside screens.
• Data collection on recruitment, completion rates, patient acceptability (surveys and interviews), and economic evaluation using a decision tree model.

Main Results:

• Feasibility criteria met with a 78% recruitment rate and 100% e-MST completion.
• High patient acceptability reported.
• Modeled cost savings of $3.23 AUD per patient and identification of 6.5 additional malnutrition cases per 121 patients.

Conclusions:

• Patient-led, technology-assisted malnutrition risk screening is a feasible and acceptable method.
• This approach is cost-effective, improving malnutrition case detection while reducing healthcare costs.