A pre-post study of multidisciplinary ward-based conferences on nutrition care for hospital patients

Malnutrition is a significant concern among hospitalized patients, contributing to increased complication rates and prolonged hospital stays. To improve nutritional management, our institution implemented weekly multidisciplinary ward-based nutrition conferences involving physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and a dedicated dietitian. When necessary, a specialized nutritional support team (NST) provided additional interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of this multidisciplinary approach, with the primary outcome being the length of hospital stay.

In an advanced treatment hospital functioning as both an acute care and long-term care hospital, as well as a designated tertiary care center under Japan's national medical system by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, we conducted a retrospective analysis from April 2011 to March 2020, dividing the study period into two eras: Era 1 (pre-conferences, April 2011-March 2016) and Era 2 (post-conferences, April 2016-March 2020). Key metrics included the length of hospital stay and the proportion of patients receiving NST interventions. The NST has been the main organizer of nutrition-related seminars. These seminars have been held six times a year and were designed to provide training opportunities for multidisciplinary ward personnel, including nurses, physicians, and dietitians.

The average length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in Era 2 (15.5 ± 0.1 days) compared to Era 1 (18.2 ± 1.1 days) (p = 0.0016). The proportion of patients requiring NST interventions decreased significantly from 3.36 ± 0.29 % in Era 1 to 2.06 ± 0.47 % in Era 2 (p = 0.0013).

The introduction of a multidisciplinary ward-based nutrition conferences significantly reduced the length of hospital stay and decreased the number of patients requiring NST interventions. These findings highlight the value of structured, collaborative nutritional care with training opportunities in improving hospital efficiency and patient outcomes.