Abstract
Background: Maintaining adequate nutritional intake for cancer patients is important to improve their fitness for cancer treatment and strengthen their immune system. Clinical practices are already in place for nurses to provide meal time assistance to patients to maintain/improve their nutritional status. However, direct observation and patients’ feedback revealed that this basic fundamental aspect of care was neglected. Objective: The aim was to improve the clinical practice in rendering adequate assistance to patients during their meal time through the utilization of best practice evidences. Methods: This project used pre and post implementation audit strategies from Joanna Briggs Institute Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and a validated Patients’ Satisfaction Survey to collect data. Getting Research into Practice programme was also used to analyse the potential barriers and design the final action plan. This project was conducted in three different phases over a 5-month period at a 24-bed oncology ward located in an acute tertiary hospital in Singapore. Results: All 4 criteria had achieved at least an 80% compliance. There was a significant improvement in Criterion 1, from 10% to 86% during the post implementation audit. With Criterion 2 achieving 100% post implementation, this was a significant improvement as compared to 0% in the baseline audit. Criterion 3 achieved 100% compliance, a sustained compliance with a 15% increase. Criterion 4 showed a significant improvement from 14% to 94%. Discussion: This project has led to improvements in clinical based practices related to current evidences. It has resulted in an increased awareness and knowledge on the importance of protected meal times and the rendering of adequate assistance for adult patients with cancer. Conclusion: Utilization of best practices, to ensure adequate nutritional intake for patient, is feasible in an acute setting. Providing mealtime assistance to patients also strengthens the nurse-patient relationship and leads to a more satisfied inpatient experience.
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