Validation of the Resident Assessment Instrument triggers in the detection of under-nutrition.
OBJECTIVE
To test the validity of Resident Assessment Instrument triggers for people in Danish nursing homes and subjects receiving home care by exploring their ability to identify older people with insufficient energy and protein intake.


METHODS
Regression analysis of insufficient energy or protein intake on each of the Resident Assessment Instrument triggers alone or in combination.


METHODS
38 people receiving home care and 41 living in nursing homes.


METHODS
A 4 day estimated dietary record, assessment of energy and protein intake, calculation of body mass index.


RESULTS
Food remaining on the plate, weight loss and any trigger present significantly influenced the energy or protein intake of the nursinghome subjects. No triggers reflected the energy or protein intake of the subjects at home.


CONCLUSIONS
Observation of food intake seems to be the best way to detect which older Danish people living in nursing homes or receiving home care have insufficient energy or protein intake.
Beck
A M
AM
Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Institute of Food Chemistry and Nutrition, Mørkhøj Bygade 19, DK-2860 Søborg, Denmark.
Ovesen
L
L
Schroll
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis*