High frequency of non-compliance with quality indicators during oral nutrition support in hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Quality indicators are important tools in clinical practice for assessing and monitoring the quality of care in nutritional therapy. Application of these indicators can improve care and may help to decrease the high frequency of malnutrition and associated hospital costs. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to estimate the frequency of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) use and to evaluate compliance with the four available quality indicators in oral nutritional therapy (QIONT) in a university hospital. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted from November 2017 to May 2018, using data from all patients with an ONS prescription aged 18 years or older admitted to the medical clinical or surgical clinical wards. Four indicators were investigated, as recommended by the International Life Science Institute. RESULTS: Of the 727 hospitalized patients in the included wards, 214 were on ONS. The frequency of ONS prescription was 29.4%. Of the 4 QIONT evaluated, none achieved the goals: frequency of subjective global assessment and reassessment nutritional (48.1% and 5.6%, respectively); frequency of non-compliance for the indication of ONS (73.36%); and fasting over 24 h during ONS (50%). CONCLUSION: A high frequency of non-compliance (100% of QIONT) was observed in hospitalized patients on ONS in medical clinical and surgical clinical wards. These results will enable health professionals in the evaluated service to elaborate protocols to improve the evaluation and recording of the nutritional follow-up of hospitalized patients on ONS. This will help to improve the quality of nutritional care.

High Frequency of Non-Compliance with Quality Indicators of Enteral and Parenteral Nutritional Therapy in Hospitalized Patients.

Quality indicators in nutritional therapy (QINT) are measures of the effectiveness and quality of nutrition support. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of the QINT adequacy of Enteral Nutritional Therapy (EN) and/or Parenteral (PN) in hospitalized patients and identify the best indicators according to health professionals. A prospective study was performed, including data from patients aged 18 years or over admitted to clinical or surgical wards. The patients who had received EN and/or PN were followed from the first day of nutritional prescription until discharge. Twelve indicators were calculated, as recommended by the literature. Regarding professional opinion, the QINT adequacy was evaluated by observing its utility, simplicity, objectivity, and cost. Of the 727 hospitalized patients, 101 were on EN and/or PN. Regarding the 12 QINT evaluated, only 25% (3) achieved the goals: involuntary withdrawal of enteral feeding tube (0.01%); feeding tube occlusion or withdrawal per occlusion (0%); the measurement of energy and protein requirements (92%). A high frequency of non-compliance (75% of QINT) was observed in clinical and surgical patients on EN and/or PN. With knowledge of the six best indicators chosen by health professionals in this service, it will be possible to elaborate protocols according to the real-life situation in the institution.