Family member eating assistance and food intake in long‐term care: A secondary data analysis of the M3 Study

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing 2020-11, Vol.76 (11), p.2933-2944
• Main Authors: Wu, Sarah A., Morrison‐Koechl, Jill, Slaughter, Susan E., Middleton, Laura E., Carrier, Natalie, McAiney, Carrie, Lengyel, Christina, Keller, Heather
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Data analysis; eating assistance; Edinburgh‐Feeding Questionnaire; family members; Food; Health status; Healthy food; Home health care; Justification; long‐term care; malnutrition; Meals; mealtimes; nursing; nursing homes; Patient-centered care; person‐centred care; Proteins; Relatives; Residential care; volunteers; Well being
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/jan.14480

Aim To determine if protein and energy intake is significantly associated with a family member providing eating assistance to residents in long‐term care homes as compared with staff providing this assistance, when adjusting for other covariates. Background Who provides eating support has the potential to improve resident food intake. Little is known about family eating assistance and if this is associated with resident food intake in long‐term care. Design Cross‐sectional, secondary data analysis. Methods Between October and January 2016, multilevel data were collected from 32 long‐term care homes across four Canadian provinces. Data included 3‐day weighed/observed food intake, mealtime observations, physical dining room assessments, health record review, and staff report of care needs. Residents where family provided eating assistance were compared with residents who received staff‐only assistance. Regression analysis determined the association of energy and protein intake with family eating assistance versus staff assistance while adjusting for covariates. Results Of those residents who required any physical eating assistance (N = 147), 38% (N = 56) had family assistance during at least one of nine meals observed. Residents who received family assistance (N = 56) and those who did not (N = 91) were statistically different in several of their physiological eating abilities. When adjusting for covariates, family assistance was associated with significantly higher consumption of protein and energy intake. Conclusion Energy and protein intake is significantly higher when family provides eating assistance. Family are encouraged to provide this direct care if it is required. Impact Residents who struggle with independent eating can benefit from dedicated support during mealtimes. Findings from this study provide empirical evidence that family eating assistance is associated with improved resident food intake and provides strong justification to encourage families to be active partners in the care and well‐being of their relatives. Home administrators and nursing staff should support the specialized care that families can provide at mealtimes. 摘要 目标 确定在调整其他协变量时,蛋白质和能量的摄入是否与向长期待在护理院的人员提供进食帮助的家庭成员与提供这种帮助的工作人员相比是否存在显著相关性。 背景资料 提供进食帮助的人员能大幅提高护理院人员的进食量。我们对于家庭进食帮助及其与待在长期护理院内人员的进食帮助有无关联的知识知之甚少。 设计 横断面分析,二次数据分析。 方法 2015年10月至2016年1月间,从加拿大四个省的32家长期护理院收集了多层次数据。数据包括3天称重/观察的进食量、进餐时间观察、实际餐厅评估、健康记录审查和员工护理需求报告。将由家庭成员提供进食帮助的护理院人员与只接受护理院工作人员进食帮助的护理院人员进行比较。在调节协变量时,回归分析确定了能量和蛋白质摄