Patient-Led, Technology-Assisted Malnutrition Risk Screening in Hospital: A Feasibility Study.
Nutrients
; 16(8)2024 Apr 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38674830
ABSTRACT
Malnutrition risk screening is crucial to identify at-risk patients in hospitals; however, screening rates can be suboptimal. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential cost-effectiveness of patient-led, technology-assisted malnutrition risk screening. A prospective multi-methods study was conducted in a 750-bed public hospital in Australia. Patients were recruited from seven wards and asked to complete an electronic version of the Malnutrition Screening Tool (e-MST) on bedside computer screens. Data were collected on feasibility, acceptability, and cost. Feasibility data were compared to pre-determined criteria on recruitment (≥50% recruitment rate) and e-MST completion (≥75% completion rate). Quantitative acceptability (survey) data were analyzed descriptively. Patient interview data were analyzed thematically. The economic evaluation was from the perspective of the health service using a decision tree analytic model. Both feasibility criteria were met; the recruitment rate was 78% and all 121 participants (52% male, median age 59 [IQR 48-69] years) completed the e-MST. Patient acceptability was high. Patient-led e-MST was modeled to save $3.23 AUD per patient and yield 6.5 more true malnutrition cases (per 121 patients) with an incremental cost saving per additional malnutrition case of 0.50 AUD. Patient-led, technology-assisted malnutrition risk screening was found to be feasible, acceptable to patients, and cost-effective (higher malnutrition yield and less costly) compared to current practice at this hospital.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Feasibility Studies
/
Mass Screening
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Cost-Benefit Analysis
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Malnutrition
Limits:
Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Nutrients
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Country of publication: