Effect of a Protected Mealtime Pilot on Energy and Protein Intake in a Canadian Hospital
Publication: Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
18 November 2019
Abstract
Purpose: In Canada, approximately 45% of hospitalized patients are moderately or severely malnourished upon admission. The protected mealtime policy was designed to address malnutrition in institutions. This pilot study aimed to provide preliminary results examining the effect of this policy on patient energy and protein intake.
Methods: A 1-group, pre–post observation design was conducted in a Canadian hospital. Pre- and post-observations included the frequency and type of interruptions, type of interrupter, and patient energy and protein intake at each meal.
Results: The average number and length of interruptions decreased, and the average length of mealtime assistance provided to patients (n = 12) increased in the post-observation period. Energy and protein consumption showed a slight increase during the post-observation period.
Conclusion: A protected mealtime policy may be an effective policy to address malnutrition among hospitalized Canadian adults. Further studies are warranted in Canada to determine the effects and feasibility of this policy implementation.
Résumé
Objectif. Au Canada, environ 45 % des patients hospitalisés sont modérément ou gravement dénutris lors de leur admission. La politique de période de repas protégée a été conçue pour lutter contre la malnutrition dans les établissements. Cette étude pilote visait à fournir des résultats préliminaires sur l’effet de cette politique sur l’apport en énergie et en protéines des patients.
Méthodes. Une étude d’observation avant-après a été menée auprès d’un groupe dans un hôpital canadien. Les observations avant-après portaient sur la fréquence et le type d’interruptions, le type de facteur d’interruption et l’apport en énergie et en protéines des patients à chaque repas.
Résultats. En moyenne, le nombre et la durée des interruptions ont diminué, et la durée moyenne de l’aide fournie aux patients (n =12) pour la période de repas a augmenté durant la période d’observation « après ». L’apport en énergie et en protéines a légèrement augmenté durant la période d’observation « après ».
Conclusion. Une politique de période de repas protégée peut être efficace pour lutter contre la malnutrition chez les adultes canadiens hospitalisés. D’autres études s’imposent au Canada pour déterminer les effets et la faisabilité de la mise en œuvre de cette politique.
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Funding: Funding provided by Brescia University College, London, Ontario, Canada.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
References
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research
Volume 81 • Number 2 • June 2020
Pages: 94 - 96
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Version of record online: 18 November 2019
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© 2020.
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AmandaGoarleyMScFN, RD, DahliaAbou El HassanMScFN, RD, and LatifehAhmadiPhD. 2020. Effect of a Protected Mealtime Pilot on Energy and Protein Intake in a Canadian Hospital. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.
81(2): 94-96. https://doi.org/10.3148/cjdpr-2019-035
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