Implementation of nutrition screening for older adults improves outcomes and is well-received by patients in Australian general practice settings
Introduction: Nutrition screening for older adults is feasible to include in routine visits to their General Practitioners. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the perceptions of older patients related to their experiences when undergoing the nutrition screening process, and to evaluate out...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia
2015
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/47536/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/47536/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/47536/1/47536.pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Nutrition screening for older adults is feasible to
include in routine visits to their General Practitioners.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify the perceptions of
older patients related to their experiences when undergoing
the nutrition screening process, and to evaluate outcomes post
nutrition screening.
Method: Patients aged ≥75 years (n=143) who had participated
in an initial nutrition screening were invited for repeat screening
between 6 months and one year following the first screening.
Those who were malnourished and at risk at baseline were
invited to participate in an individual interview at follow-up to
identify their perceptions of the Mini Nutritional Assessment
Short Form (MNA-SF) and the usefulness of a nutrition
resource kit that had been provided. Interviews were audio
recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded into topics and analysed
thematically using NVivo software version 10. Statistical
analyses were performed using SPSS, with significance set at p
< 0.05.
Results: Seventy-two patients (50.3%) underwent repeat
screening. Nutritional status had improved in the group
identified to be malnourished/at risk at baseline (p= 0.01),
while no significant changes were detected for the wellnourished
group (p=0.07). Referral to community services
predicted malnutrition risk score at follow-up (p= 0.031).
Interviews indicated that the MNA-SF process itself was wellreceived
but that patients did not perceive themselves as being
in need of nutrition support.
Conclusion: Implementation of routine identification of
malnutrition in older adults attending general practice can
be achieved with the use of a rapid screening tool. Further
deterioration in nutritional status may then be prevented
by following appropriate nutrition care pathways, including
referral to community services. The MNA-SF was not perceived
by older patients as being harmful, or intrusive, however
motivators for older patients to improve their nutritional status
warrants further exploration. |
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