Education-Based Improvement of Nutrition Delivery in the ICU Using Structured Monitoring and EHR Data: A...

Adequate nutritional support is essential in ICU care, yet achieving recommended energy intake remains challenging. This study evaluated the impact of a structured Nutrition Education Program (NEP) on nutritional delivery and clinical outcomes among older ICU patients in Vietnam. A quasi-experimental controlled study was conducted in the intensive care unit of Vinh Long General Hospital, including 64 patients aged ≥ 60 years (32 in the experimental group, 32 in the control group). Patients in the experimental group received the NEP in addition to routine care. Mean daily energy intake increased from approximately 900 kcal/day at ICU admission to 1,204 kcal/day at discharge in the experimental group, compared with 1,007 kcal/day in the control group. The proportion of patients achieving caloric targets was higher in the experimental group, while nutrition-related complications were significantly lower (6.3% vs. 28.1%). These findings suggest that education-based interventions may improve nutrition delivery and support more effective monitoring of nutritional intake. This study introduces a structured, informatics-supported monitoring workflow based on standardized data capture and EHR documentation.