evaluation of a community dietetics intervention on the management of malnutrition for healthcare professionals

Background: Healthcare professionals working in the community setting have limited knowledge of the evidence‐based management of malnutrition. The present study aimed to evaluate a community dietetics intervention, which included an education programme for healthcare professionals in conjunction wit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of human nutrition and dietetics 2010-12, Vol.23 (6), p.567-574
Main Authors: Kennelly, S, Kennedy, N.P, Rughoobur, G.F, Slattery, C.G, Sugrue, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
clinical nutrition
Community Health Services
community nutrition
community programs
dietetics
Dietetics - education
education programs
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
health care workers
Health Personnel - education
human diseases
Humans
Male
malnutrition
Malnutrition - therapy
nutrition education programme
nutrition knowledge
nutrition screening
nutritional intervention
oral sip feeds
patients
professional education
Risk Factors
risk groups
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
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Summary:Background: Healthcare professionals working in the community setting have limited knowledge of the evidence‐based management of malnutrition. The present study aimed to evaluate a community dietetics intervention, which included an education programme for healthcare professionals in conjunction with the introduction of a community dietetics service for patients ‘at risk' of malnutrition. Changes in nutritional knowledge and the reported management of malnourished patients were investigated and the acceptability of the intervention was explored. Methods: An education programme, incorporating ‘Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)' training, was implemented in eight of 10 eligible primary care practices (14 general practitioners and nine practice nurses attended), in seven private nursing homes (20 staff nurses attended) and two health centres (53 community nurses attended) in conjunction with a community dietetics service for patients at risk of malnutrition. Nutritional knowledge was assessed before, immediately after, and 6 months after the intervention using self‐administered, multiple‐choice questionnaires. Reported changes in practice and the acceptability of the education programme were considered using self‐administered questionnaires 6 months after the intervention. Results: A significant increase in nutritional knowledge 6 months after the intervention was observed (P 
ISSN:0952-3871
1365-277X
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-277X.2010.01111.x