Staff responses to interventions aiming to reduce mechanical restraint in adult mental health inpatient settings: a questionnaire-based survey.

PURPOSE: To explore mental health staff's responses towards interventions designed to reduce the use of mechanical restraint (MR) in adult mental health inpatient settings. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey. The questionnaire, made available online via REDCap, presented 20 interventions designed to reduce MR use. Participants were asked to rate and rank the interventions based on their viewpoints regarding the relevance and importance of each intervention. RESULTS: A total of 128 mental health staff members from general and forensic mental health inpatient units across the Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark completed the questionnaire (response rate = 21.3%). A total of 90.8% of the ratings scored either 'agree' (45.2%) or 'strongly agree' (45.6%) concerning the relevance of the interventions in reducing MR use. Overall and in the divided analysis, interventions labelled as 'building relationship' and 'patient-related knowledge' claimed high scores in the staff's rankings of the interventions' importance concerning implementation. Conversely, interventions like 'carers' and 'standardised assessments' received low scores. CONCLUSIONS: The staff generally considered that the interventions were relevant. Importance rankings were consistent across the divisions chosen, with a range of variance and dispersion being recorded among certain groups.

Variation in opinions on coercion use among mental healthcare professionals: a questionnaire study.

INTRODUCTION: Even if coercive measures are widely applied in psychiatry and have numerous well-known drawbacks, there is limited known on the agreement among mental healthcare professionals' opinions on their use. In a questionnaire study using standardized scenarios, we investigated variation in staff opinions on coercion. METHODS: In a web-based survey distributed to staff at three psychiatry hospitals, respondents were asked to consider if and what coercion to use by introducing two hypothetical scenarios involving involuntary psychiatric admission and in-hospital coercion. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two out of 601 invited staff members responded to the survey (Response Rate = 22%). There was large variation in participating staff members' opinions on how to best manage critical situations and what coercive measures were warranted. In the first scenario, 57% of respondents (n = 76) believed that the patient should be involuntarily admitted to hospital while the remaining respondents believed that the situation should be managed otherwise. Regarding the second scenario, 62% of respondents responded that some in-hospital coercion should be used. The majority of respondents believed that colleagues would behave similarly (60%) or with a tendency towards more coercion use (34%). Male gender, being nursing staff and having less coercion experience predicted being less inclined to choose involuntary hospital admission. CONCLUSION: There is a high degree of variation in coercion use. This study suggests that this variation persists despite staff members being confronted with the same standardized situations. There is a need for evidence-based further guidance to minimize coercion in critical mental healthcare situations.

Using complaints from obstetric care for improving women's birth experiences - a cross sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Staff shortages and quality in obstetric care is a concern in most healthcare systems and a hot topic in the public debate that has centred on complaints about deficient care. However there has been a lack of empirical data to back the debate. The aim of this study was to analyse and describe complaints in obstetric care. Further, to compare the obstetric complaint pattern to complaints from women about other hospital services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool to code, analyse and extract contents of obstetric complaint cases in a region of Denmark between 2016 and 2021. We compared the obstetric complaint pattern to all other hospital complaint cases in the same period regarding female patients at a large University Hospital in a cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Complaints regarding obstetric care differed from women's complaints regarding other healthcare services. Women from obstetric care raised more problems per complaint, and tended to complain more about relational issues indicated by odds for complaints about staff shortage four times higher in the obstetric care group. Women from obstetric care had a lower proportion of compensation claims. CONCLUSION: Systematic complaint analysis acknowledged women's experience in obstetric care and may point to areas that potentially need further attention. Complaints from obstetric care show that women experience deficiencies related to relational problems like recognition and individualized support compared to complaints from women receiving other hospital healthcare services.

Centralization of emergency hospital care is not associated with increased in-hospital mortality; a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We describe changes in the distance travelled, the utilization of emergency services, and the inhospital mortality before and after the centralization of hospital emergency services in Denmark. METHODS: All unplanned non-psychiatric hospital contacts from adults (aged ≥18 years) in 2008 and 2016 are included. Analyses are age-standardized and conducted at a municipality level. The municipalities are divided into groups according to the presence of emergency hospital services. RESULTS: Municipalities where hospitals with emergency services have been closed differed by having the most significant increase in distance travelled from 2008 to 2016. All groups experienced a reduction in overall in-hospital mortality. The reduction in mortality was not present for acute myocardial infarct contacts from municipalities where hospitals with emergency services have been closed. CONCLUSION: Our data do not suggest that hospital closures, and thereby increased travel distance, have contributed significantly as a barrier to emergency-care access and changes to in-hospital mortality.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected the mortality for patients admitted with pneumonia in Denmark.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several hospital systems observed a reduction in patients with respiratory complaints. Using the Danish national registers, we conducted an observational study on disease severity and 30-day all-cause mortality for acutely admitted pneumonia patients before (3/19-3/20) and during (3/20-2/21) the pandemic. We calculated mortality rate ratios and Cox regression analyses. We identified 54,405 patients and during the pandemic, patients were older, more likely to be male, had more co-morbidity and a lower albumin on admission. Crude mortality was higher during the pandemic (8.4 vs. 6.9%). Adjusted hazard ratio for 30-day all-cause mortality was 1.07 (95%CI 1.01-1.14). We showed a small but significant, increase in mortality risk for patients admitted to hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark.

Consecutive cycles of accreditation and quality of in-hospital care: a Danish population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about whether repeated cycles of hospital accreditation are a robust method to improve quality of care continuously. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the association between compliance with consecutive cycles of accreditation and quality of in-hospital care. METHODS: We conducted a Danish nationwide population-based study including patients aged 18 years treated for acute stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, heart failure or hip fracture at public, non-psychiatric hospitals. From 2012 to 2015, two cycles of national hospital accreditation were completed, resulting in 12 high and 14 low compliant hospitals (Low = partially accredited in both cycles). Our outcome measure was quality of in-hospital care measured by 39 process performance measures (PPMs), reflecting recommendations from the national clinical guidelines by adherence to (i) individual PPMs and (ii) the full bundle of PPMs (all-or-none). We computed adjusted odds ratios (ORs) using logistic regression based on robust standard error estimation for cluster sampling of data at hospital level. RESULTS: In total, 78 387 patient pathways covering 508 816 processes were included, of which 47% had been delivered at high compliant hospitals and 53% at low compliant hospitals, respectively. Compliance with consecutive cycles was not associated with improved quality of in-hospital care (individual: OR = 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77-1.10; All-or-none: OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.66-1.15). However, in the second cycle alone, patients treated at partially accredited hospitals had a lower adherence than patients treated at fully accredited hospitals (Individual: OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-0.99; All-or-none: OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.59-1.03). The association was particularly strong among patients treated at partially accredited hospitals required to submit additional documentation. CONCLUSION: Compliance with consecutive cycles of hospital accreditation in Denmark was not associated with improved quality of in-hospital care. However, compliance with the second cycle alone was associated with improved quality of in-hospital care.

Healthcare inequality in compensation claims concerning acute hospital services: a Danish register-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Although citizens' equal right to acute healthcare of appropriate quality is an oft-cited goal for modern societies, healthcare disparities may persist. We aimed to investigate inequality in compensation claims and compensation payments regarding acute healthcare services. DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a cross-sectional study of compensation claim patterns using the Danish Patient Compensation Association (DPCA) registries. PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used register data on all cases managed by DPCA relating to acute hospital healthcare for adults (aged > 18 years) from 2007 to 2017. RESULTS: In total, the DPCA had 5556 compensation claims for injuries caused by acute care services during the years 2007-2017. Age group of 50-64 years (odds ratio (OR) = 1.37 compared with those aged 18-49 years; P < 0.001), marriage (OR = 1.14; P < 0.001), higher income (OR = 1.55; P < 0.001) and Danish origin (OR = 1.49; P < 0.001) were statistically associated with higher odds for filing a compensation claim; men (OR = 0.83; P < 0.001) and those with many co-morbidities were much less represented (OR = 0.24; P < 0.001). Male gender (OR = 1.25; P < 0.001) and higher age (OR = 2.55 (80+ years); P < 0.001) were associated with higher odds for a compensation award. Failed diagnosis was also more often at stake in men (OR = 1.38; P < 0.001) and in patients aged 50-64 years (OR = 1.17; P < 0.001) but occurred less often in patients with multiple morbidities (OR = 0.68; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from our Danish material suggest some inequality in compensation claims and compensation payments regarding acute healthcare services.

Intended and unintended changes in length of stay following reconfiguration of emergency care departments.

BACKGROUND: The Danish health-care system has witnessed noticeable changes in the acute hospital care organization. The reconfiguration includes closing hospitals, centralizing acute care functions and investing in new buildings and equipment. OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact on the length of stay (LOS) and the proportion of overnight stays for hospitalized acute care patients. METHODS: This nationwide interrupted time series examined trend changes in LOS and overnight stay. Admissions were stratified based on admission time (weekdays/weekends and time of day), age and the level of co-morbidity. RESULTS: In 2007-2016, the global average LOS declined 2.9% per year (adjusted time ratio [CI (confidence interval) 95%] 0.971 [0.970-0.971]). The reconfiguration was overall not associated with change in trend of LOS (time ratio [CI 95%] 1.001 [1.000-1.002]). When admissions were stratified for either weekdays or weekends, the reconfiguration was associated with reduction of the underlying downward trend for weekdays (time ratio [CI 95%] 1.004 [1.003-1.005]) and increased downward trend for weekend admissions (time ratio [CI 95%] 0.996 [0.094-0.098]). Admissions at night were associated with a 0.7% trend change in LOS (time ratio [CI 95%] 0.993 [0.991-0.996]). The reconfiguration was not associated with trend changes for overnight stays. CONCLUSION: The nationwide reconfiguration of acute hospital care was overall not associated with change in trend for the registered LOS and no change in trend for overnight stays. However, the results varied according to hospitalization time, where admissions during weekends and nights after the reconfiguration were associated with shortened LOS.

Rate and predictors for non-attendance of patients undergoing hospital outpatient treatment for chronic diseases: a register-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Failure to keep medical appointments results in inefficiencies and, potentially, in poor outcomes for patients. The aim of this study is to describe non-attendance rate and to investigate predictors of non-attendance among patients receiving hospital outpatient treatment for chronic diseases. METHODS: We conducted a historic, register-based cohort study using data from a regional hospital and included patients aged 18 years or over who were registered in ongoing outpatient treatment courses for seven selected chronic diseases on July 1, 2013. A total of 5895 patients were included and information about their appointments was extracted from the period between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2015. The outcome measure was occurrence of non-attendance. The associations between non-attendance and covariates (age, gender, marital status, education level, occupational status, specific chronic disease and number of outpatient treatment courses) were investigated using multivariate logistic regression models, including mixed effect. RESULTS: During the two-year period, 35% of all patients (2057 of 5895 patients) had one or more occurrences of non-attendance and 5% of all appointments (4393 of 82,989 appointments) resulted in non-attendance. Significant predictors for non-attendance were younger age (OR 4.17 for 18 ≤ 29 years as opposed to 80+ years), male gender (OR 1.35), unmarried status (OR 1.39), low educational level (OR 1.18) and receipt of long-term welfare payments (OR 1.48). Neither specific diseases nor number of treatment courses were associated with a higher non-attendance rate. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing hospital outpatient treatments for chronic diseases had a non-attendance rate of 5%. We found several predictors for non-attendance but undergoing treatment for several chronic diseases simultaneously was not a predictor. To reduce non-attendance, initiatives could target the groups at risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency (Project ID 18/35695 ).

General practice location and malpractice litigation.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare systems in many countries struggle to recruit general practitioners (GPs) for clinics in rural areas leading to less GPs for an increasing number of patients. As a result, fewer resources are available for individual patients, potentially influencing patient satisfaction and the likelihood of malpractice litigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between malpractice litigation and local setting characteristics in a Danish national sample of GPs considering rurality, number of patients listed with the GP, as well as levels of local unemployment, education, income and healthcare expenditure. METHOD: This is a register study on Danish complaint files and administrative register data using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: No statistical significant association could be established between litigation figures and rurality, occupation with respect to education, and municipality level of healthcare expenditures. However, larger patient list size was associated with higher rates of malpractice litigation (odds ratio (OR) 1.05 per 100 patients). Litigation was less frequent in settings with higher income patient populations (OR 0.65), although where it did occur the criticism seemed much more likely to be justified (OR 6.03). CONCLUSION: Many GPs face an increasing workload in terms of patient lists. This can cause drawbacks in terms of patient dissatisfaction and malpractice litigation even though local factors such as economic wealth apparently interfere. Further research is needed about the role of geographic variations, workload and socioeconomic inequality in malpractice litigation.

Consecutive cycles of hospital accreditation: Persistent low compliance associated with higher mortality and longer length of stay.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between compliance with consecutive cycles of accreditation and patient-related outcomes. DESIGN: A Danish nationwide population-based study from 2012 to 2015. SETTING: In-patients admitted with one of the 80 diagnoses at public, non-psychiatric hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: In-patients admitted with one of 80 primary diagnoses which accounted for 80% of all deaths occuring within 30 dyas after admission. INTERVENTION: Admission to a hospital with high (n = 125 485 in-patients) or low compliance (n = 152 074 in-patients) in both cycles of accreditation by the Danish Healthcare Quality Programme. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 30-day mortality, length of stay (LOS) and all-cause acute readmission. We computed adjusted odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR) using logistic and Cox Proportional Hazard regression including adjustment for six potential patient-related confounders. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality risk for in-patients admitted at high compliant hospitals was 3.95% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.84-4.06) and 4.39% (95% CI: 4.29-4.49) at low compliant hospitals. In-patients admitted at low compliant hospitals had a substantially higher risk of dying within 30-day after admission (adjusted OR: 1.26 (95% CI: 1.11-1.43) and a longer LOS (adjusted HR of discharge: 0.89 (95% CI: 0.82-0.95) than in-patients at high compliant hospitals. No difference was seen for acute readmission (adjusted HR: 0.98 (95% CI: 0.90-1.06)). Focusing on the second cycle alone, in-patients at partially accredited hospitals had a higher 30-day mortality risk and longer LOS than admissions at fully accredited hospitals (30-day: adjusted OR: 1.12 (95% CI: 1.02-1.24) and LOS: adjusted HR: 0.91 (95% CI: 0.84-0.98)). CONCLUSION: Persistent low compliance with the DDKM (in Danish: Den Danske Kvalitetsmodel) accreditation was associated with higher 30-day mortality and longer LOS.

Hospital accreditation: staff experiences and perceptions.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand how staff at various levels perceive and understand hospital accreditation generally and in relation to quality improvement (QI) specifically. Design/methodology/approach In a newly accredited Danish hospital, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews to capture broad ranging experiences. Medical doctors, nurses, a quality coordinator and a quality department employee participated. Interviews were audio recorded and subjected to framework analysis. Findings Staff reported that The Danish Healthcare Quality Programme affected management priorities: office time and working on documentation, which reduced time with patients and on improvement activities. Organisational structures were improved during preparation for accreditation. Staff perceived that the hospital was better prepared for new QI initiatives after accreditation; staff found disease specific requirements unnecessary. Other areas benefited from accreditation. Interviewees expected that organisational changes, owing to accreditation, would be sustained and that the QI focus would continue. Practical implications Accreditation is a critical and complete hospital review, including areas that often are neglected. Accreditation dominates hospital agendas during preparation and surveyor visits, potentially reducing patient care and other QI initiatives. Improvements are less likely to occur in areas that other QI initiatives addressed. Yet, accreditation creates organisational foundations for future QI initiatives. Originality/value The authors study contributes new insights into how hospital staff at different organisational levels perceive and understand accreditation.

Acute and chronic effects of early progressive resistance training on knee pain and knee joint effusion after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

To investigate if progressive resistance training initiated one week after unicompartment knee arthroplasty affect knee pain and knee joint effusion. Data from the progressive resistance training intervention group of a previous randomized control trail study was analysed. Knee pain was measured using a visual analogue scale, and knee circumference was used as an indication of knee joint effusion. Comparisons were made between the early (session 1+2) and late (session 15+16) phase of the 8-week intervention (chronic) and between the pre and post levels of single training sessions (acute). Chronic effects : A significant decrease in pre- (55% SD 44% ; p=0.004) and post-training (47% SD 53% ; p = 0.002) pain was observed. Also, a significant decrease in pre- (4.1% SD 3.3% ; p = 0.0001) and post-training (2.9% SD 2.7% ; p = 0.0004) circumference was observed. Acute effects : A significant increase in pain was observed in session 5, while a significant increase in circumference was observed in session 6-8, 10 and 13-16. Progressive resistance training initiated in the early post-operative phase following unicompartment knee arthroplasty does not increase the pain level immediately after a training session, despite frequent increases in joint effusion. Furthermore, pre- and post levels of pain and joint effusion dropped significantly following the intervention period.

Compliance with accreditation and recommended hospital care-a Danish nationwide population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between compliance with accreditation and recommended hospital care. DESIGN: A Danish nationwide population-based follow-up study based on data from six national, clinical quality registries between November 2009 and December 2012. SETTING: Public, non-psychiatric Danish hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with acute stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, heart failure, hip fracture and bleeding/perforated ulcers. INTERVENTIONS: All hospitals were accredited by the first version of The Danish Healthcare Quality Programme. Compliance with accreditation was defined by level of accreditation awarded the hospital after an announced onsite survey; hence, hospitals were either fully (n = 11) or partially accredited (n = 20). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recommended hospital care included 48 process performance measures reflecting recommendations from clinical guidelines. We assessed recommended hospital care as fulfilment of the measures individually and as an all-or-none composite score. RESULTS: In total 449 248 processes of care were included corresponding to 68 780 patient pathways. Patients at fully accredited hospitals had a significantly higher probability of receiving care according to clinical guideline recommendations than patients at partially accredited hospitals across conditions (individual measure: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.01-1.43, all-or-none: adjusted OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.02-1.58). For five of the six included conditions there were an association; the pattern appeared particular strong among patients with acute stroke and hip fracture (all-or-none; acute stroke: adjusted OR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.05-1.83, hip fracture: adjusted OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.00-2.49). CONCLUSION: High compliance with accreditation standards was associated with a higher level of evidence-based hospital care in Danish hospitals.

Predictors of the effectiveness of accreditation on hospital performance: A nationwide stepped-wedge study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of the effectiveness of hospital accreditation on process performance measures. DESIGN: A multi-level, longitudinal, stepped-wedge, nationwide study. PARTICIPANTS: All patients admitted for acute stroke, heart failure, ulcers, diabetes, breast cancer and lung cancer at Danish hospitals. INTERVENTION: The Danish Healthcare Quality Programme that was designed to create a framework for continuous quality improvement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Changes in week-by-week trends of hospitals' process performance measures during the study period of 269 weeks prior to, during and post-accreditations. Process performance measures were based on 43 different processes of care obtained from national clinical quality registries. Analyses were stratified according to condition, type of care (i.e. treatment, diagnostics, secondary prevention and patient monitoring) and hospital characteristics (i.e. university affiliation, location, size, experience with accreditation and accreditation compliance). RESULTS: A total of 1 624 518 processes of care were included. The impact of accreditation differed across the conditions. During accreditation, heart failure and breast cancer showed less improvement than other disease areas. Across all conditions, diagnostic processes improved less rapidly than other types of processes. However, after stratifying the data by hospital characteristics, process performance measures improved more uniformly. In respect of the measures that had an unsatisfactory level of quality, the processes related to diabetes, diagnostics and patient monitoring all responded to accreditation and showed an increased improvement during the preparatory work. CONCLUSION: Hospital characteristics were not found to be predictors for the effects of accreditation, whereas conditions and types of care to some extent predicted the effectiveness.

Improvement in quality of hospital care during accreditation: A nationwide stepped-wedge study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes over time in quality of hospital care in relation to the first accreditation cycle in Denmark. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We performed a multi-level, longitudinal, stepped-wedge, nationwide study of process performance measures to evaluate the impact of a mandatory accreditation programme in all Danish public hospitals. Patient-level data (n = 1 624 518 processes of care) on stroke, heart failure, ulcer, diabetes, breast cancer and lung cancer care were obtained from national clinical quality registries. INTERVENTION: The Danish Healthcare Quality Programme was introduced in 2009, aiming to create a framework for continuous quality improvement. MAIN OUTCOME: Changes in week-by-week trends of hospital care during the study period of 269 weeks prior to, during and post-accreditation. RESULTS: The quality of hospital care improved over time throughout the study period. The overall positive change in trend odds ratio (OR) = 1.002 per week; 95% confidence interval (CI: 0.997-1.006) observed when comparing the period during accreditation with the period prior to accreditation was not significant. However, when restricting the analyses to processes of care where the performance did not meet target values for satisfactory quality prior to accreditation, we found a significant positive change in trend (OR = 1.006 per week; 95% CI: 1.001-1.011). When comparing the post-accreditation period with the period during accreditation, we found a significantly reduced trend (OR = 0.994 per week; 95% CI: 0.988-0.999), indicating the improvement in quality of care continued but at a lower rate than during accreditation. CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that hospital accreditation leads to improvements in patient care.

Accreditation and improvement in process quality of care: a nationwide study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether performance measures improve more in accredited hospitals than in non-accredited hospital. DESIGN AND SETTING: A historical follow-up study was performed using process of care data from all public Danish hospitals in order to examine the development over time in performance measures according to participation in accreditation programs. PARTICIPANTS: All patients admitted for acute stroke, heart failure or ulcer at Danish hospitals. INTERVENTION: Hospital accreditation by either The Joint Commission International or The Health Quality Service. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was a change in opportunity-based composite score and the secondary outcome was a change in all-or-none scores, both measures were based on the individual processes of care. These processes included seven processes related to stroke, six processes to heart failure, four to bleeding ulcer and four to perforated ulcer. RESULTS: A total of 27 273 patients were included. The overall opportunity-based composite score improved for both non-accredited and accredited hospitals (13.7% [95% CI 10.6; 16.8] and 9.9% [95% 5.4; 14.4], respectively), but the improvements were significantly higher for non-accredited hospitals (absolute difference: 3.8% [95% 0.8; 8.3]). No significant differences were found at disease level. The overall all-or-none score increased significantly for non-accredited hospitals, but not for accredited hospitals. The absolute difference between improvements in the all-or-none score at non-accredited and accredited hospitals was not significant (3.2% [95% -3.6:9.9]). CONCLUSIONS: Participating in accreditation was not associated with larger improvement in performance measures for acute stroke, heart failure or ulcer.

Assessing nourishment problems at a hospital: what can we learn from them?

INTRODUCTION: Patient safety is a high priority in the Danish health care system, including that hospital patients get the proper nutrition during their stay. A Nutrition Committee at Odense University Hospital is responsible for policy regarding nourishment at the hospital. If patients experience suboptimal treatment, i.e. improper nourishment, in the Danish health care system, they have the right to file a complaint. These complaints enable the improvement potentials based on the patients' first hand experiences. Therefore, our aim was to examine the nutrition complaint pattern and to get a deeper understanding of the context surrounding nutrition problems, allowing the extraction of learning potentials. METHODS: We analysed complaints submitted to Odense University Hospital between 2018 and 2022 using the Healthcare Complaint Analysis Tool. The complaints were categorised into categories, levels of severity and overall patient harm. The complaints containing a high-severity nutrition problem were read through and thematised into aspects not defined in the Healthcare Complaint Analysis Tool. RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2022, 60 complaint cases containing 89 nutrition problems were filed to Odense University Hospital. Most (58.3%) of these were filed by the patients' relatives. The nutrition problems were mostly of low severity (56.2%), while 23.6% were severe, and 20.2% were very severe. The reading of 18 very severe nutrition complaints revealed a cascade of problems triggered by the nutrition problem in six cases. Moreover, we saw that two high-severity nutrition problems led to catastrophic harm. DISCUSSION: A low proportion of nutrition problems may express an underestimation regarding nourishment at the hospital. A patient's threshold may not be exceeded by suboptimal nutrition and therefore does not file a complaint. However, complaints contain important insights contributing to wider learning, given that improvements at the hospital so far are based on clinicians' reporting, overlooking the patient perspective.