Abstract
Empowering patients to participate in nutrition care during hospitalisation may improve their dietary intakes and associated outcomes. This study tested the acceptability and feasibility of a technology-based intervention to engage hospital patients in nutrition care at a tertiary teaching hospital in Australia. The hospital used an electronic foodservice system (EFS), by which patients ordered meals via bedside computers. Adults at nutritional risk received the nutrition technology (NUTRI-TEC) intervention, involving nutrition assessment, education on nutrition requirements and training on using the EFS to enter food intakes and monitor nutrition goals. Acceptability was assessed using patient satisfaction and engagement surveys. Feasibility was assessed by evaluating the intervention delivery/fidelity and patient recruitment/retention. Patients’ dietary intakes were observed daily to indicate the intervention’s effects and assess the accuracy of the patient-recorded intakes. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Of the 71 patients recruited, 49 completed the study (55% male; median (IQR) age 71 (65–78) years; length of stay 10 (7–14) days). Patient satisfaction with NUTRI-TEC was high. Intervention delivery and fidelity targets were met but recruitment (≥50%) and retention (≥75%) targets were not; only 31% of patients agreed to participate and 69% completed the study (mostly due to unexpected/early discharge). Patient- and researcher-recorded dietary intakes correlated strongly, indicating patients can record food intakes accurately using technology. This study highlights the important role technology is likely to play in facilitating patient engagement and improving care during hospitalisation.
Highlights
Modern-day healthcare is evolving at a rapid rate
Significant differences were seen between patients who did and did not complete the study for age, study length of stay (LOS) and EER; there were no differences between groups for any other characteristics
Patients’ diagnoses were consistent with those typically found on the study wards, with respiratory (23%), orthopaedic (21%), cardiovascular (11%), renal (10%) and infectious (6%) conditions comprising the stay (LOS) and EER; there were no differences between groups for any other character tics
Summary
Modern-day healthcare is evolving at a rapid rate. Technological advances are facilitating more accessible, safe, effective, efficient and sustainable health care delivery [1,2]; and importantly, more patient-centred care [3]. Patient engagement is a core aspect of safe and quality health care endorsed by the World Health Organization’s Patients for Patient Safety movement [5]. It is associated with improved clinical and functional outcomes, as well as increased patient safety and satisfaction with care [6,7]. As more research on HIT use in clinical settings emerges, showing promise for improved patient and hospital outcomes, it is imperative that healthcare professionals and organisations embrace HIT but contribute to its development, implementation and evaluation
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