'On-Demand' snack service in a rehabilitation setting: Impact on satisfaction, intake, waste and costs.

AIM: To evaluate an 'On-Demand' snack service in a rehabilitation setting for satisfaction, intake, waste and cost. METHODS: In September 2021, a trial of an 'On-Demand' snack service was conducted on two general rehabilitation wards in a purpose-built rehabilitation hospital. A retrospective comparison of pre-implementation, 1-month and 8-month post-implementation audit data was used to evaluate staff and patient satisfaction, nutritional intake, waste and cost (labour and food). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed for intake quantitative data and content analysis was conducted for qualitative data. RESULTS: A total of 26 responses from staff and 34 from patients were received. Staff reported higher overall satisfaction with the 'tea-trolley' service (50% vs. 32%; χ2 6.815 [2]; p < 0.05). Patient satisfaction ratings of the original 'tea-trolley' system were higher than the 'On-Demand' snacks system (96% vs. 59%; χ2 41.60 [2]; p < 0.0001). Median daily intake from snack food and drinks was maintained (938 kJ and 6 g protein vs. 925 kJ and 6 g protein) and waste (23.3% vs. 20.9%; p < 0.05) decreased with the 'On-Demand' service. Cost of ordered food was similar ($778.15 'tea-trolley' vs. $746.1 'On-Demand'), however cost of waste ($179.47 'tea-trolley' vs. $128.7 'On-Demand') and labour ($1650.46 'tea-trolley' vs. $926.44 'On-Demand') reduced by 28% and 44%, respectively, with the 'On-Demand' snack service. CONCLUSION: Implementing an 'On-Demand' snack service in the general inpatient rehabilitation setting resulted in reductions in food waste, foodservice staff labour and waste costs, while intake was maintained. Patient and staff satisfaction decreased warranting further investigation into appropriate implementation methods.

Hospital Services to Improve Nutritional Intake and Reduce Food Waste: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients' nutritional intake is a crucial issue in modern hospitals, where the high prevalence of disease-related malnutrition may worsen clinical outcomes. On the other hand, food waste raises concerns in terms of sustainability and environmental burden. We conducted a systematic review to ascertain which hospital services could overcome both issues. METHODS: A systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted across MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing the effect of hospital strategies on energy intake, protein intake, and plate/food waste. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions for RCTs. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included, assessing as many hospital strategies such as food service systems-including catering and room service-(n = 9), protected mealtimes and volunteer feeding assistance (n = 4), food presentation strategies (n = 3), nutritional counseling and education (n = 2), plant-based proteins meal (n = 1). Given the heterogeneity of the included studies, the results were narratively analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Although the results should be confirmed by prospective and large sample-size studies, the personalisation of the meal and efficient room service may improve nutritional intake while decreasing food waste. Clinical nutritionist staff-especially dietitians-may increase food intake reducing food waste through active monitoring of the patients' nutritional needs.

Impact of room service on nutritional intake, plate and production waste, meal quality and patient satisfaction and meal costs: A single site pre-post evaluation.

AIM: Room service is a patient-focused foodservice model gaining interest in Australian hospitals following demonstrated patient and organisational benefits. This study aimed to compare nutritional intake, waste, patient satisfaction, meal costs and meal quality between a bought-in, thaw-retherm foodservice model and a cook-fresh, on-demand room service model at a large tertiary public hospital. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of quality assurance data compared thaw-retherm to room service. Nutritional intake and plate waste were measured using a visual intake analysis tool; production waste was measured using weighted analysis methodology; patient satisfaction was measured using a validated patient satisfaction survey; meal quality was assessed using a validated meal quality audit tool, and meal costs were obtained from hospital finance reports. Independent sample t-tests or nonparametric equivalent (Mann-Whitney U-test) for continuous variables and Pearson's Chi-square for categorical data were applied for comparative purposes. RESULTS: Average energy and protein intake, as well as percentage requirements met, improved between thaw-retherm and room service (4320 kJ/day vs 7265 kJ/day; 42.4 g/day vs 82.5 g/day; and 46% vs 80.7%; 49.9% vs 98.4%; all P < .001. Reductions in plate waste (40% vs 15%) and production waste (15% vs 5.6%, P < .001) were observed and food costs decreased by 9% with room service. Meal quality audit results improved, and patient satisfaction increased with % respondents satisfied increasing from 75.0% to 89.8% (χ2 9.985[2]; P = .007) for room service. CONCLUSIONS: This research demonstrates significant improvements in patient and organisational outcomes with room service compared to a thaw-retherm model in a large public hospital.

Room service in a public hospital improves nutritional intake and increases patient satisfaction while decreasing food waste and cost.

BACKGROUND: Room service (RS) is a hospital foodservice model that is traditionally unique to the private sector. It allows patients to order meals compliant to their nutritional requirements from a single integrated menu at a time that suits them. Meals are prepared and delivered within 45 min of order. Following implementation in a private adult facility in 2013, Mater Group implemented the first RS in a public adult facility in Australia in 2016. In a pre-post study comparing RS with a traditional foodservice model (TM), key outcomes were measured and analysed. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of quality assurance data audits in a pre-post study design was undertaken to assess patient nutritional intake, plate waste, satisfaction and meal costs before and after RS implementation. RESULTS: Comparison of nutritional intake between TM (n = 84) and RS (n = 103) showed statistically significant increases with RS in both energy (5513 kJ day-1 versus 6379 kJ day-1 , P = 0.020) and protein (53 g day-1 versus 74 g day-1 , P < 0.001) intake, as well as energy and protein intake as a percentage of requirements (64% versus 78%, P = 0.002 and 70% versus 99%, P < 0.001, respectively). Total average plate waste decreased from 30% to 17% (P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction indicated an improvement with RS, with 98% of patients scoring the service good to very good, compared to 75% for TM (P < 0.04). Patient food costs decreased by 28% per annum with RS. CONCLUSIONS: This research provides insight into the benefits achievable with RS in the public hospital setting, confirming that a patient-centred food service model can cost-effectively improve clinical outcomes.

Room Service Improves Nutritional Intake and Increases Patient Satisfaction While Decreasing Food Waste and Cost.

BACKGROUND: Room service is a foodservice model that has been increasingly implemented across health care facilities in an effort to improve patient satisfaction and reduce food waste. In 2013, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, Australia, was the first hospital in Australia to implement room service, with the aim of improving patient nutrition care and reducing costs. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the nutritional intake, plate waste, patient satisfaction, and patient meal costs of room service compared to a traditional foodservice model. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of quality-assurance data audits was undertaken to assess patient nutritional intake between a facility utilizing a traditional foodservice model and a facility utilizing room service and in a pre-post study design to assess plate waste, patient satisfaction, and patient meal costs before and after the room service implementation. PARTICIPANTS: Audit data were collected for eligible adult inpatients in Mater Private Hospital Brisbane and Mater Hospital Brisbane, Australia, between July 2012 and May 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were nutritional intake, plate waste, patient satisfaction, and patient meal costs. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Independent samples t-tests and χ2 analyses were conducted between pre and post data for continuous data and categorical data, respectively. Pearson χ2 analysis of count data for sex and reasons for plate waste for data with counts more than five was used to determine asymptotic (two-sided) significance and n-1 χ2 used for the plate waste analysis. Significance was assessed at P<0.05. RESULTS: This study reported an increased nutritional intake, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced plate waste and patient meal costs with room service compared to a traditional foodservice model. Comparison of nutritional intake between a traditional foodservice model (n=85) and room service (n=63) showed statistically significant increases with room service in both energy (1,306 kcal/day vs 1,588 kcal/day; P=0.005) and protein (52 g/day vs 66 g/day, P=0.003) intake, as well as energy and protein intake as a percentage of requirements (63% vs 75%; P=0.024 and 65% vs 85%; P=0.011, respectively). Total mean plate waste decreased from 29% (traditional foodservice model) to 12% (room service) (P<0.001). Patient satisfaction ratings indicated improvement with room service across all Press Ganey meal scores: 68th to 86th percentile overall; 64th to 95th percentile for "quality of food"; and 60th to 99th percentile for "flavor of food." Evaluated during comparable times of the year, patient meal costs decreased by 15% with room service. CONCLUSIONS: A patient-centered foodservice model, such as room service, can improve patient nutritional intake and enhance patient satisfaction in a budget constrained health care environment.

Positive effect of protein-supplemented hospital food on protein intake in patients at nutritional risk: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: New evidence indicates that increased dietary protein ingestion promotes health and recovery from illness, and also maintains functionality in older adults. The present study aimed to investigate whether a novel food service concept with protein-supplementation would increase protein and energy intake in hospitalised patients at nutritional risk. METHODS: A single-blinded randomised controlled trial was conducted. Eighty-four participants at nutritional risk, recruited from the departments of Oncology, Orthopaedics and Urology, were included. The intervention group (IG) received the protein-supplemented food service concept. The control group (CG) received the standard hospital menu. Primary outcome comprised the number of patients achieving ≥75% of energy and protein requirements. Secondary outcomes comprised mean energy and protein intake, body weight, handgrip strength and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: In IG, 76% versus 70% CG patients reached ≥75% of their energy requirements (P = 0.57); 66% IG versus 30% CG patients reached ≥75% of their protein requirements (P = 0.001). The risk ratio for achieving ≥75% of protein requirements: 2.2 (95% confidence interval = 1.3-3.7); number needed to treat = 3 (95% confidence interval = 2-6). IG had a higher mean intake of energy and protein when adjusted for body weight (CG: 82 kJ kg(-1) versus IG: 103 kJ kg(-1) , P = 0.013; CG: 0.7 g protein kg(-1) versus 0.9 g protein kg(-1) , P = 0.003). Body weight, handgrip strength and length of hospital stay did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The novel food service concept had a significant positive impact on overall protein intake and on weight-adjusted energy intake in hospitalised patients at nutritional risk.

Comparing School Lunch Program Served at Dining Room with Program at Classroom for Sanitation and Contentment at One Middle School / 대한지역사회영양학회지

School lunch programs at middle schools have increased in quantity. However, the quality of them is in fact not enough to reach the satisfactory standard, especially in the aspect of environment of school meals. It is true that there seems to be little attention to the environment. In this study, degree of satisfaction about school lunch program was surveyed for students in one middle school. Focus of survey was sanitary condition about the dining room and classroom where they have lunch. First, in order to investigate the degree of satisfaction about their dining place, questionnaire was sent out to the students at one middle school in Seoul. Questionnaire was made with reference to previous research. Second, for the study on environmental sanitation, dropping bacteria (general bacteria) is measured in three parts of dining place (entrance, serving table, dining table). Petriplate film was exposed to the responsible places for 15 minutes and then cultivated at the temperature of 32degrees C for 48 hours before counting the number of bacteria formed. For the statistical analysis, SPSS 12.0 was used. The results of the study show that students had more satisfaction in dining room service than in classroom service. Important factors for the meal program such as "taste of food", "amount of food per student", "state of keeping warm", "appearance of food", "diversity of menu", and "kindliness of feeding staff" had more points in dining room than in classroom. For the environmental and sanitary aspect, the result of dropping bacteria (general bacteria) in dining room and classroom showed that table (5.00) and fooddistribution corner (8.67) of dining room were cleaner than those of classroom (P < 0.05). Making a good environment for school feeding will have a positive effect on the improvement of satisfaction and sanitation of school feeding. There should be expansion of dining room service for the students.

A superlotação dos serviços de emergência hospitalar como evidência de baixo desempenho organizacional / The overcrowding of hospital emergency services as evidence of low organizational performance

O estudo teve como objetivo investigar a superlotação nos serviços de emergência hospitalar (SEH). Para tal, foram elaborados dois artigos, já publicados. O primeiro, elaborado durante a crise dos serviços de emergência hospitalar de 2005, discutiu as características estruturantes do Programa QUALISUS do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, em curso de implantação, analisou as especificidades desses serviços e fez algumas considerações sobre o sistema de saúde do município do Rio de Janeiro, sede do início do programa QUALISUS. Com a complexidade do cenário onde o programa era implementado, exemplificado pela grave crise na assistência àqueles que demandavam cuidados nos serviços de emergência, assim como as características da matriz da qualidade sugerida pelo programa, cuja ênfase é na reorganização da rede dos serviços de emergência e na recepção dos serviços de emergência hospitalar, voltados para o acolhimento e a classificação de risco, optou-se pelo aprofundamento do estudo sobre os SEH. A partir de uma revisão sistemática, discutiu-se as intervenções voltadas para solucionar o problema da superlotação dos Serviços de Emergência Hospitalar, e identificou-se evidências de baixo desempenho organizacional. A revisão sistemática partiu de um universo de 2.992 títulos, onde foram selecionados 822 títulos para análise de resumos e textos integrais, entre o período de 2000 a junho de 2007. A superlotação foi caracterizada como um fenômeno mundial, com causas e conseqüências. As intervenções que interferiram positivamente no principal indicador da superlotação, o tempo de permanência no SEH, apontaram para a melhoria do fluxo de saída dos pacientes dos serviços de emergência hospitalar, através do aumento do desempenho organizacional. Os resultados dessa revisão desmistificaram as soluções que aumentam as barreiras de acesso ou melhoram a estrutura...

The study aimed to investigate the overcrowding in the public hospitals emergency rooms (ER). For such, two articles had been elaborated and are already published. The first one is related to the crisis of the public hospitals emergency rooms services which took place in the year of 2005 in Brazil. It presents the major characteristics of the Ministry of Health QUALISUS Program, analyzes the specificities of these services and made some considerations about the city of Rio de Janeiro health system, QUALISUS headquarter. Given the complexity of the broad picture where the program was implemented, leaded by the serious crisis in the emergency rooms medical care, as well as the characteristics of the quality matrix suggested by the program, whose emphasis is the reorganization of the emergency services network and in the reception of the services of hospital emergency driven toward the shelter and the classification of risk, it was decided to deepen the research on the emergency room aspects. From a thorough systematic review based on a universe of 2.992 titles, 882 full articles and abstracts from the period between 2.000 and 2.007 were analyzed. Overcrowding was characterized as a world-wide phenomenon, with causes and consequences. Among the main aspects, this literature raise up a range of interventions to solve the emergency room overcrowding. Low organizational performance is a scientific finding. Interventions that had modified positively the main indicator of overcrowding, the time of permanence in the emergency room, dealt with the improvement of the patients discharge from emergency rooms through the increase of the organizational performance. The results of this systematic revision had demystified the solutions that increase access barriers...