Eating together is important: using a dining room in an acute elderly medical ward increases energy intake.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of eating in a supervised dining room, on nutritional intake and weight, for elderly patients on an acute medicine for the elderly ward.


METHODS
Patients on the intervention ward were encouraged to attend a dining room every lunch time by a trained nursing assistant as part of the rehabilitation process. The patients on the control ward ate only by their bedside. Food intake and weight data were collected over the study period on each patient.


RESULTS
Forty-eight patients participated in the study. At the lunch time meal studied the dining room group had higher intakes of energy compared with the controls [489 kcal (95% CI: 438-554) versus 360 kcal (95% CI: 289-448), P < 0.013]. There was no difference in protein intake between the groups [18.9 g (95% CI: 16.6-21.2) versus 17.7 g (95% CI: 13.2-22.2), P=0.63]. No significant difference in weight gain between the two groups was seen (P=0.6). However, there was a trend towards weight gain in the dining room group.


CONCLUSIONS
Food intake can be improved by using a supervised dining room, and this will potentially lead to weight gain and corresponding improvements in nutritional status and rehabilitation.
Wright
L
L
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK. lwright@hhnt.nhs.uk
Hickson
M
M
Frost
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004045:Dietary Services / Q000592:standards*; D002149:Energy Intake; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D015430:Weight Gain
D004044:Dietary Proteins