The impact of education on the appropriate use of nutrition support

Abstract

This project examined the appropriate use of parenteral and enteral nutrition pre- and post-medical staff education. A Nutrition Support Committee (NSC), consisting of physicians, dietitians, nurses and pharmacists developed criteria for monitoring appropriate use of both enteral and parenteral nutrition. Included in the criteria were anthropometric and laboratory data and a section on whether a functioning gastrointestinal tract was documented. The indicators were studied for over one year and then a two-part educational program was planned and presented on both enteral and parenteral nutrition. Guest physicians and the NSC presented information and results on the appropriate use of these two nutrition support options. The indicators were again monitored for six more months (June – December 1993) and compared to this same time period of the previous year (June – December 1992). The number of patients on parenteral nutrition decreased by 32% with a 5% increase of cases meeting established criteria for justified use of parenteral nutrition. The projected cost savings, per year, of using enteral versus parenteral nutrition on this number of patients (29), for an average of two weeks, would be estimated at 7gt $76,400. The data suggests that increased awareness and continuing education may improve the appropriate use of nutrition support modalities. As a result of this study, a Nutrition Support Team is being considered.