Canadian Nutrition Society Dialogue on disease-related malnutrition: a commentary from the 2022 Food For Health Workshop.

This commentary represents a dialogue on key aspects of disease-related malnutrition (DRM) from leaders and experts from academia, health across disciplines, and several countries across the world. The dialogue illuminates the problem of DRM, what impact it has on outcomes, nutrition care as a human right, and practice, implementation, and policy approaches to address DRM. The dialogue allowed the germination of an idea to register a commitment through the Canadian Nutrition Society and the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force in the UN/WHO Decade of Action on Nutrition to advance policy-based approaches for DRM. This commitment was successfully registered in October 2022 and is entitled CAN DReaM (Creating Alliances Nationally for Policy in Disease-Related Malnutrition). This commitment details five goals that will be pursued in the Decade of Action on Nutrition. The intent of this commentary is to record the proceedings of the workshop as a stepping stone to establishing a policy-based approach to DRM that is relevant in Canada and abroad.

Safety and impact of peripheral parenteral nutrition on nutrient delivery in patients with nutrition risk: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients and strategies to improve energy and protein intake have a positive impact on outcome. Despite early evidence suggesting the usefulness of peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN), its adoption has been hampered by concerns regarding safety and efficacy. This study addresses this issue. METHODS: This prospective observational study was performed in medical and surgical inpatients in who were screened for nutrition risk and assessed using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Data captured included nutrition status, energy and protein requirements, intravenous access, indications for PPN, use of supplemental micronutrients, and disposition of patients on PPN. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients were recruited from two centers over 8 months. The average age was 61.5 years, the mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 4.21 (±3.09), 52% were male, and 48% were admitted to medicine, whereas 52% were admitted to surgery. Thirty-three percent of patients were SGA C, 44% were SGA B, and 19% were SGA A. Twenty-seven percent of patients had cancer. The average length of hospital stay was 22 days. The main indications for PPN were gastrointestinal tract dysfunction (72%) and postsurgical status (16%). PPN provided an average of 1296 kcal (±191) and 46 g of protein (±7). Intravenous access complications in patients receiving PPN did not occur in excess of expected. Almost 40% of patients required transition to central PN. CONCLUSIONS: PPN is a safe, effective way to deliver supplemental protein, energy, and micronutrients to malnourished patients and supports transition to other modes of nutrition care.

Home parenteral nutrition patients on mixed oil lipid emulsion have a higher rate of hospitalizations compare to those on soybean oil- a prospective 2-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Mixed oil intravenous lipid emulsion (MO ILE) that contains 30% soybean oil (SO), 30% medium chain triglycerides, 25% olive oil and 15% fish oil can benefit hospitalized patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) but there are very few studies on its long-term use. Our goal was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of adults receiving home PN (HPN) with MO versus those receiving SO ILE over a 2-year period. METHOD: This is a retrospective analysis of data collected prospectively from a cohort of patients recorded in the Canadian HPN Registry over a 2-year period. HPN patients from academic programs across Canada were entered in the Registry according to a validated protocol. For this study, demographic, nutritional, laboratory and clinical data were extracted from January 1st 2015, when MO lipid emulsion became available in Canada, to July 24th 2019. Clinical data for each patient included: number of hospitalizations, number of hospitalizations related to HPN and number of hospitalization days related to HPN, over a year; incidence of line sepsis per 1000 catheter days and mortality. Data are presented as median (1st, 3rd quartile) for continuous variables and frequency (percentage) for categorical variables. Comparisons between groups were performed using two sample t-test or Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests for continuous variables and Chi-square tests or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. Univariate and multiple linear regressions were also carried out. Statistical significance is set at a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were included (MO n = 68, SO n = 52). Significant differences at baseline between the two groups were a higher use of Hickman line (62.12% vs 42%, p = 0.038) and more western Canada based hospital care with MO (75% vs 42.31%, p = 0.0002). The MO group had significantly more hospitalizations (p = 0.001), more hospitalizations related to HPN (p = 0.012) and more hospitalization days related to HPN (p = 0.016) per patient per year compared to SO patients. There was no significant difference between groups for line sepsis per 1000 catheter days (MO: 0.05 (0.0, 1.0) vs SO: 0.0 (0.0, 0.22), p = 0.053) or mortality. All other variables, including biochemical variables, were similar between groups. In a multiple regression analysis, the following factors were significantly associated with a greater number of hospitalizations per patient per year: use of MO, high blood glucose from the last recorded value and having died by the end of the study period. CONCLUSION: This 2-year prospective cohort study suggests an increased risk of hospitalization in HPN patients receiving MO lipid emulsion. The long-term effect of using MO lipid emulsion in HPN patients should be further evaluated using a large randomized controlled trial. THE STUDY WAS REGISTERED IN CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: (NCT02299466).

More-2-Eat implementation demonstrates that screening, assessment and treatment of malnourished patients can be spread and sustained in acute care; a multi-site, pretest post-test time series study.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition in medical and surgical inpatients is an on-going problem. More-2-Eat (M2E) Phase 1 demonstrated that improved detection and treatment of hospital malnutrition could be embedded into routine practice using an intensive researcher-facilitated implementation process. Yet, spreading and sustaining new practices in diverse hospital cultures with minimal researcher support is unknown. AIMS: To demonstrate that a scalable model of implementation can increase three key nutrition practices (admission screening; Subjective Global Assessment (SGA); and medication pass (MedPass) of oral nutritional supplement) in diverse acute care hospitals to detect and treat malnutrition in medical and surgical patients. METHODS: Ten hospitals participated in this pretest post-test time series implementation study from across Canada, including 21 medical or surgical units (Phase 1 original units (n = 4), Phase 1 hospital new units (n = 9), Phase 2 new hospitals and units (n = 8)). The scalable implementation model included: training champions on implementation strategies and providing them with education resources for teams; creating a self-directed audit and feedback process; and providing mentorship. Standardized audits of all patients on the study unit on an audit day were completed bi-monthly to track nutrition care activities since admission. Bivariate comparisons were performed by time period (initial, mid-term and final audits). Run-charts depicted the trajectory of change and qualitatively compared to Phase 1. RESULTS: 5158 patient charts were audited over the course of 18-months. Admission nutrition screening rates increased from 50% to 84% (p < 0.0001). New Phase 1 units more readily implemented screening than Phase 2 sites, and the original Phase 1 units generally sustained screening practices from Phase 1. SGA was a sustained practice at Phase 1 hospitals including in new Phase 1 units. The new Phase 2 units improved completion of SGA but did not reach the levels of Phase 1 units (original or new). MedPass almost doubled over the time periods (7%-13% of all patients p < 0.007). Other care practices significantly increased (e.g. volunteer mealtime assistance). CONCLUSION: Nutrition-care activities significantly increased in diverse hospital units with this scalable model. This heralds the transition from implementation research to sustained changes in routine practice. Screening, SGA, and MedPass can all be implemented, improve nutrition care for all patients, spread within an organization, and for the most part, sustained (and in the case of original Phase 1 units, for over 3 years) with champion leadership.

Trends and Novel Research in Hospital Nutrition Care: A Narrative Review of Leading Clinical Nutrition Journals.

Hospital malnutrition is a longstanding problem that continues to be underrecognized and undertreated. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize novel, solution-focused, recent research or commentary to update providers on the prevention of iatrogenic malnutrition as well as the detection and treatment of hospital malnutrition. A narrative review was completed using the top 11 clinically relevant nutrition journals. Of the 13,850 articles and editorials published in these journals between 2013 and 2019, 511 were related to hospital malnutrition. A duplicate review was used to select (n = 108) and extract key findings from articles and editorials. Key criteria for selection were population of interest (adult hospital patients, no specific diagnostic group), solution-focused, and novel perspectives. Articles were categorized (6 classified in >1 category) as Screening and Assessment (n = 17), Standard (n = 25), Advanced (n = 12) and Specialized Nutrition Care (n = 8), Transitions (n = 15), Multicomponent (n = 21), Education and Empowerment (n = 9), Economic Impact (n = 3), and Guidelines (n = 4) for summarizing. Research advances in screening implementation, standard nutrition care, transitions, and multicomponent interventions provide new strategies to consider for malnutrition prevention (iatrogenic), detection, and care. However, several areas requiring further research were identified. Specifically, larger and more rigorous studies that examine health outcomes and economic analyses are urgently needed.

Translating Evidence-Based Guidelines into Practice-Are We Getting It Right? A Multi-Centre Prospective International Audit of Nutrition Care in Patients with Foregut Tumors (INFORM).

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with foregut tumors comprising head and neck (HNC) and esophageal (EC) cancers, negatively impacting outcomes. International evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) for nutrition care exist; however, translation of research evidence into practice commonly presents considerable challenges and consequently lags. This study aimed to describe and evaluate current international nutrition care practices compared with the best-available evidence for patients with foregut tumors who are at high risk of malnutrition. A multi-centre prospective cohort study enrolled 170 patients commencing treatment of curative intent for HNC (n = 119) or EC (n = 51) in 11 cancer care settings in North America, Europe and Australia between 2016 and 2018. Adherence criteria were derived from relevant EBG recommendations with pooled results for participating centres reported according to the Nutrition Care Model at either system or patient levels. Adherence to EBG recommendations was: good (≥80%) for performing baseline nutrition screening and assessment, perioperative nutrition assessment and nutrition prescription for energy and protein targets; moderate (≥60 to 80%) for utilizing validated screening and assessment tools and pre-radiotherapy dietitian consultation; and poor (60%) for initiating post-operative nutrition support within 24 h and also dietetic consultation weekly during radiotherapy and fortnightly for 6 weeks post-radiotherapy. In conclusion, gaps in evidence-based cancer nutrition care remain; however, this may be improved by filling known evidence gaps through high-quality research with a concurrent evolution of EBGs to also encompass practical implementation guidance. These should aim to support multidisciplinary cancer clinicians to close evidence-practice gaps throughout the patient care trajectory with clearly defined roles and responsibilities that also address patient-reported concerns.

Nutrition interventions in populations with mental health conditions: a scoping review.

Nutrition is a modifiable factor for intervention in mental disorders. This scoping review characterized nutrition intervention research in mental disorders. A 3-category framework characterized nutrition interventions: Guide (e.g., counselling), Provide (e.g., food provisions), and Add (e.g., supplementation). Nutrition interventions were classified as single-component (e.g., Guide) or complex (e.g., Guide-Provide). Sixty-nine trials met inclusion criteria, 96% were randomized controlled trials. Most commonly diagnosed mental disorders were depressive disorder (i.e., persistent) or major depressive disorder (n = 39), schizophrenia (n = 17), and other psychotic disorders (n = 13). Few trials included patients with anxiety disorders (n = 2) or bipolar disorders (n = 3). Several trials (n = 15, 22%) assessed and implemented nutrition interventions to improve dietary patterns, of which 11 (73%) reported statistically significant and clinically important positive effects of nutrition interventions on mental disorders. The majority of the trials (n = 61, 90%) investigated supplementation, most commonly adding essential fatty acids, vitamins, or minerals. The majority (n = 48, 70%) reported either statistically significant or clinically important effect and 31 (51%) reported both. Though most interventions led to statistically significant improvements, trials were heterogeneous for targeted mental disorders, nutrition interventions, and outcomes assessed. Given considerable heterogeneity, further research from robust and clinically relevant trials is required to support high-quality health care with effective nutrition interventions. Novelty Future research on whole-diet interventions powered to detect changes in mental health outcomes as primary objectives is needed. Dietitians may be an opportunity to improve feasibility and efficacy of nutrition interventions for mental disorder patients. Dietitians may be of value to educate mental health practitioners on the importance of nutrition.

Essential Fatty Acid Requirements and Intravenous Lipid Emulsions.

Linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) must be supplied to the human body and are therefore considered essential fatty acids. This narrative review discusses the signs, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD). EFAD may occur in patients with conditions that severely limit the intake, digestion, absorption, and/or metabolism of fat. EFAD may be prevented in patients requiring parenteral nutrition by inclusion of an intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) as a source of LA and ALA. Early ILEs consisted solely of soybean oil (SO), a good source of LA and ALA, but being rich in LA may promote the production of proinflammatory fatty acids. Subsequent ILE formulations replaced part of the SO with other fat sources to decrease the amount of proinflammatory fatty acids. Although rare, EFAD is diagnosed by an elevated triene:tetraene (T:T) ratio, which reflects increased metabolism of oleic acid to Mead acid in the absence of adequate LA and ALA. Assays for measuring fatty acids have improved over the years, and therefore it is necessary to take into account the particular assay used and its reference range when determining if the T:T ratio indicates EFAD. In patients with a high degree of suspicion for EFAD, obtaining a fatty acid profile may provide additional useful information for making a diagnosis of EFAD. In patients receiving an ILE, the T:T ratio and fatty acid profile should be interpreted in light of the fatty acid composition of the ILE to ensure accurate diagnosis of EFAD.

Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Program Can Change Nutrition Care Practice: A Multicenter Experience in Elective Colorectal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are multimodal evidenced-based care pathways for optimal recovery. Central to ERAS is integration of perioperative nutrition care into the overall management of the patient. This study describes changes to perioperative nutrition care after implementation of an ERAS program, and identifies factors that affect compliance to ERAS care elements and short-term postoperative outcomes. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected from patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery at 6 hospitals in Alberta, Canada, from 2013-2017. Compliance to nutrition care elements (nutrition risk screening, preoperative carbohydrate loading, early postoperative oral feeding, and mobilization) was recorded before ERAS implementation (pre-ERAS group, n = 487) and with ERAS implementation (ERAS group, n = 3536). Logistic regression identified factors that affect compliance to care elements, length of hospital stay (LOS), and postoperative complications. RESULTS: A total of 4023 patients were included. The rate of nutrition risk screening improved from 9% (pre-ERAS group) to 74% (ERAS group); 12% were at nutrition risk. Compliance increased for preoperative carbohydrate loading (4%-61%), early postoperative oral feeding (P < .001), and mobilization (P < .001). In multivariable logistic regression, nutrition risk independently predicted low overall compliance (<70%) to ERAS care elements (odds ratio [OR] 2.77; 95% CI, 2.11-3.64; P < .001) and a trend for LOS >5 days (OR 1.40; 95% CI, 1.00-1.96; P = .052). Low compliance to ERAS (<70%) predicted postoperative complications (OR 2.69; 95% CI, 2.23-3.24; P < .001). CONCLUSION: ERAS implementation positively impacted the adoption of standardized perioperative nutrition care practices. Nutrition risk screening identified patients less able to comply with postoperative nutrition care elements and who had longer LOS.

Food Is Medicine: A Qualitative Analysis of Patient and Institutional Barriers to Successful Surgical Nutrition Practices in an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Setting.

BACKGROUND: Close adherence to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program is associated with improved outcomes. A nutrition-focused qualitative analysis of patient experience and of ERAS implementation across our province was conducted to better understand the barriers to successful adoption of ERAS nutrition elements. METHODS: Enrolled colorectal patients (n = 27) were asked to describe their surgical experience. Narrative interviews (n = 20) and focus groups (n = 7) were transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively for food and nutrition themes. Qualitative data sources (n = 198 documents) collected throughout our implementation of ERAS were categorized as institutional barriers that impeded the successful adoption of ERAS nutrition practices. RESULTS: We identified patient barriers related to 3 main themes. The first theme, Mistaken nutrition facts & beliefs, describes how information provision was a key barrier to the successful adoption of nutrition elements. Patients held misconceptions and providers tended to provide them with contradictory nutrition messages, ultimately impeding adequate food intake and adherence to ERAS elements. The second theme, White bread is good for the soul?, represents a mismatch between prescribed medical diets and patient priorities. The third theme, Food is medicine, details patient beliefs that food is healing; the perception that nutritious food and dietary support was lacking produced dissatisfaction among patients. Overall, the most important institutional barrier limiting successful adoption of nutrition practices was the lack of education for patients and providers. CONCLUSION: Applying a patient-centered model of care that focuses on personalizing the ERAS nutrition elements might be a useful strategy to improve patient satisfaction, encourage food intake, correct previously held beliefs, and promote care adherence.

Parenteral Nutrition and Lipids.

Lipids have multiple physiological roles that are biologically vital. Soybean oil lipid emulsions have been the mainstay of parenteral nutrition lipid formulations for decades in North America. Utilizing intravenous lipid emulsions in parenteral nutrition has minimized the dependence on dextrose as a major source of nonprotein calories and prevents the clinical consequences of essential fatty acid deficiency. Emerging literature has indicated that there are benefits to utilizing alternative lipids such as olive/soy-based formulations, and combination lipids such as soy/MCT/olive/fish oil, compared with soybean based lipids, as they have less inflammatory properties, are immune modulating, have higher antioxidant content, decrease risk of cholestasis, and improve clinical outcomes in certain subgroups of patients. The objective of this article is to review the history of IVLE, their composition, the different generations of widely available IVLE, the variables to consider when selecting lipids, and the complications of IVLE and how to minimize them.

Current Status of Nutrition Training in Graduate Medical Education From a Survey of Residency Program Directors: A Formal Nutrition Education Course Is Necessary.

INTRODUCTION: Nutrition leaders surmised graduate medical nutrition education was not well addressed because most medical and surgical specialties have insufficient resources to teach current nutrition practice. A needs assessment survey was constructed to determine resources and commitment for nutrition education from U.S. graduate medical educators to address this problem. METHODS: An online survey of 36 questions was sent to 495 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Program Directors in anesthesia, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and general surgery. Demographics, resources, and open-ended questions were included. There was a 14% response rate (72 programs), consistent with similar studies on the topic. RESULTS: Most (80%) of the program directors responding were from primary care programs, the rest surgical (17%) or anesthesia (3%). Program directors themselves lacked knowledge of nutrition. While some form of nutrition education was provided at 78% of programs, only 26% had a formal curriculum and physicians served as faculty at only 53%. Sixteen programs had no identifiable expert in nutrition and 10 programs stated that no nutrition training was provided. Training was variable, ranging from an hour of lecture to a month-long rotation. Seventy-seven percent of program directors stated that the required educational goals in nutrition were not met. The majority felt an advanced course in clinical nutrition should be required of residents now or in the future. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition education in current graduate medical education is poor. Most programs lack the expertise or time commitment to teach a formal course but recognize the need to meet educational requirements. A broad-based, diverse universal program is needed for training in nutrition during residency.

Identifying the Barriers and Enablers to Nutrition Care in Head and Neck and Esophageal Cancers: An International Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this work was to identify barriers and enablers to the implementation of nutrition care in head and neck and esophageal (HNE) cancers and to prioritize barriers to help improve the nutrition care process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used a multimethod qualitative study design (including semistructured interviews, focus group). Interviews (n = 29) were conducted at 5 European sites providing care and treatment to patients with HNE cancers. A focus group (n = 21) reviewed and corroborated interview findings and identified priorities for nutrition care. Participants were healthcare providers and researchers with direct experience in the field of HNE cancer. RESULTS: Five themes with accompanying barriers and enablers were identified related to nutrition care: (1) evidence for the benefit of nutrition interventions, (2) implementation of nutrition care processes (assessment, intervention, and follow-up), (3) characteristics of healthcare providers, (4) site factors, and (5) patient characteristics. Focus group discussions identified 2 priorities that must be acted on to improve nutrition care: (1) improve the evidence base and (2) develop standardized nutrition care pathways. CONCLUSION: Themes related to nutrition care in HNE cancers were similar between sites, but barriers and enablers differed. Interview and focus group participants agreed the following actions will result in improvements in nutrition care: (1) enhance the evidence base to test the benefit of nutrition interventions, with a focus on resolving specific controversies regarding nutrition therapy, and (2) establish a minimum data set with a goal to create standardized nutrition care pathways where roles and responsibilities for care are clearly defined.

Factors associated with nutritional decline in hospitalised medical and surgical patients admitted for 7 d or more: a prospective cohort study.

This prospective cohort study was conducted in eighteen Canadian hospitals with the aim of examining factors associated with nutritional decline in medical and surgical patients. Nutritional decline was defined based on subjective global assessment (SGA) performed at admission and discharge. Data were collected on demographics, medical information, food intake and patients' satisfaction with nutrition care and meals during hospitalisation; 424 long-stay (≥7 d) patients were included; 38% of them had surgery; 51% were malnourished at admission (SGA B or C); 37% had in-hospital changes in SGA; 19·6% deteriorated (14·6% from SGA A to B/C and 5% from SGA B to C); 17·4% improved (10·6% from SGA B to A, 6·8% from SGA C to B/A); and 63·0 % patients were stable (34·4% were SGA A, 21·3% SGA B, 7·3% SGA C). One SGA C patient had weight loss ≥5%, likely due to fluid loss and was designated as stable. A subset of 364 patients with admission SGA A and B was included in the multiple logistic regression models to determine factors associated with nutritional decline. After controlling for SGA at admission and the presence of a surgical procedure, lower admission BMI, cancer, two or more diagnostic categories, new in-hospital infection, reduced food intake, dissatisfaction with food quality and illness affecting food intake were factors significantly associated with nutritional decline in medical patients. For surgical patients, only male sex was associated with nutritional decline. Factors associated with nutritional decline are different in medical and surgical patients. Identifying these factors may assist nutritional care.

Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency in 2015: The Impact of Novel Intravenous Lipid Emulsions.

The fatty acids, linoleic acid (18:2ω-6) and α-linolenic acid (18:3ω-3), are essential to the human diet. When these essential fatty acids are not provided in sufficient quantities, essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) develops. This can be suggested clinically by abnormal liver function tests or biochemically by an elevated Mead acid and reduced linoleic acid and arachidonic acid level, which is manifested as an elevated triene/tetraene ratio of Mead acid/arachidonic acid. Clinical features of EFAD may present later. With the introduction of novel intravenous (IV) lipid emulsions in North America, the proportion of fatty acids provided, particularly the essential fatty acids, varies substantially. We describe a case series of 3 complicated obese patients who were administered parenteral nutrition (PN), primarily using ClinOleic 20%, an olive oil-based lipid emulsion with reduced amounts of the essential fatty acids, linoleic and α-linolenic, compared with more conventional soybean oil emulsions throughout their hospital admission. Essential fatty acid profiles were obtained for each of these patients to investigate EFAD as a potential cause of abnormal liver enzymes. Although the profiles revealed reduced linoleic acid and elevated Mead acid levels, this was not indicative of the development of essential fatty acid deficiency, as reflected in the more definitive measure of triene/tetraene ratio. Instead, although the serum fatty acid panel reflected the markedly lower but still adequate dietary linoleic acid content and greatly increased oleic acid content in the parenteral lipid emulsion, the triene/tetraene ratio remained well below the level, indicating EFAD in each of these patients. The availability and use of new IV lipid emulsions in PN should encourage the clinician to review lipid metabolism based on the quantity of fatty acids provided in specific parenteral lipid emulsions and the expected impact of these lipid emulsions (with quite different fatty acid composition) on measured fatty acid profiles.

The Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care (INPAC): Building consensus with a modified Delphi.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is commonly underdiagnosed and undertreated in acute care patients. Implementation of current pathways of care is limited, potentially as a result of the perception that they are not feasible with current resources. There is a need for a pathway based on expert consensus, best practice and evidence that addresses this crisis in acute care, while still being feasible for implementation. METHODS: A modified Delphi was used to develop consensus on a new pathway. Extant literature and other resources were reviewed to develop an evidence-informed background document and draft pathway, which were considered at a stakeholder meeting of 24 experts. Two rounds of an on-line Delphi survey were completed (n = 28 and 26 participants respectively). Diverse clinicians from four hospitals participated in focus groups to face validate the draft pathway and a final stakeholder meeting confirmed format changes to make the pathway conceptually clear and easy to follow for end-users. Experts involved in this process were researchers and clinicians from dietetics, medicine and nursing, including management and frontline personnel. RESULTS: 80% of stakeholders who were invited, participated in the first Delphi survey. The two rounds of the Delphi resulted in consensus for all but two minor components of the Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care (INPAC). The format of the INPAC was revised based on the input of focus group participants, stakeholders and investigators. CONCLUSIONS: This evidence-informed, consensus based pathway for nutrition care has greater depth and breadth than prior guidelines that were commonly based on systematic reviews. As extant evidence for many best practices is absent, the modified Delphi process has allowed for consensus to be developed based on better practices. Attention to feasibility during development has created a pathway that has greater implementation potential. External validation specifically with practitioner groups promoted a conceptually easy to use format. Test site implementation and evaluation is needed to identify resource requirements and demonstrate process and patient reported outcomes resulting from embedding INPAC into clinical practice.

Clinical and economic outcomes of nutrition interventions across the continuum of care.

Optimal nutrition across the continuum of care plays a key role in the short- and long-term clinical and economic outcomes of patients. Worldwide, an estimated one-quarter to one-half of patients admitted to hospitals each year are malnourished. Malnutrition can increase healthcare costs by delaying patient recovery and rehabilitation and increasing the risk of medical complications. Nutrition interventions have the potential to provide cost-effective preventive care and treatment measures. However, limited data exist on the economics and impact evaluations of these interventions. In this report, nutrition and health system researchers, clinicians, economists, and policymakers discuss emerging global research on nutrition health economics, the role of nutrition interventions across the continuum of care, and how nutrition can affect healthcare costs in the context of hospital malnutrition.

Malnutrition assessment in patients with cancers of the head and neck: a call to action and consensus.

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH: A state of the science review to assess how nutritional status and malnutrition are defined by the community of researchers studying head & neck cancer (HNC) patients. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: In 117 publications, nutritional status was described diversely, ranging from merely one to all six of the following features: weight loss, body composition, quantity/type of food intake, symptoms impacting oral intake, inflammation and altered metabolism. Methods of assessment of each feature were inconsistent. Cancer- and treatment-related symptoms impacting oral intake were a prominent theme. Metabolic changes potentially related to weight loss and efficacy of nutritional therapy were rarely described (<15% of articles). There were 24 different explicit definitions for malnutrition. CONCLUSION: Consensus is needed regarding the criteria to adequately describe HNC-associated malnutrition. Standardization of assessments will permit aggregation of data, and integration into clinical practice-specifically, development of consensus criteria for implementation and termination of nutrition therapies.

Optimizing nutrition in intensive care units: empowering critical care nurses to be effective agents of change.

Observational studies have consistently revealed wide variation in nutritional practices across intensive care units and indicated that the provision of adequate nutrition to critically ill patients is suboptimal. To date, the potential role of critical care nurses in implementing nutritional guideline recommendations and improving nutritional therapy has received little consideration. Factors that influence nurses' nutritional practices include the lack of guidelines or conflicting evidence-based recommendations pertaining to nurses' practice, strategies for implementing guidelines that are not tailored to barriers nurses face when feeding patients, strategies to communicate best evidence that do not capitalize on nurses' preference for seeking information through social interaction, prioritization of nutrition in initial and continuing nursing education, and a lack of interdisciplinary team collaboration in the intensive care unit when decisions on how to feed patients are made. Future research and quality improvement strategies are required to correct these deficits and successfully empower nurses to become nutritional champions at the bedside. Using nurses as agents of change will help standardize nutritional practices and ensure that critically ill patients are optimally fed.