[Clinical nutrition knowledge in health care members of University Hospitals of Paraguay].
BACKGROUND
Adequate clinical nutrition care is an integral part of the complete treatment of hospitalised patients, requiring specific knowledge from the health care team. The aim of this study is to assess, in Paraguay, the health care team ability in clinical care nutrition.


METHODS
A survey was made including 174 people of Paraguay university hospitals (29% physicians, 29% medicine graduating students, 11% pharmaceutics, 24% nurses, 7% dieticians), by answering voluntarily a multiple choice questionnaire of 20 items.


RESULTS
The median score of the 20 questions was 6 (0-15). Physicians obtained a median of 6 (2-15), graduating students 7 (2-14), pharmaceutics 7 (0-15), nurses 3 (0-11), and dieticians 9 (4-13). The dieticians obtained a significantly higher score than the other groups (p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The knowledge about clinical nutrition in the health care members from university hospitals is not adequate. The level of education in clinical nutrition is better in the dietician.
Goiburu
M E
ME
Nutrición I, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA), Paraguay. megoiburu@hotmail.com
Alfonzo
L F
LF
Aranda
A L
AL
Riveros
M F
MF
Ughelli
M A
MA
Dallman
D
D
Rolón
R
R
Balbuena
C
C
Ibáñz
D
D
Bordón
C
C
Ruiz Díaz
L
L
Reyes
E
E
Levi
E
E
Cáceres
S
S
Machi
A
A
Stais
S
S
Peña
P
P
Pereira
T
T
Doncell
E
E
Jure
G M M
GM
Waitzberg
D L
DL
D002983:Clinical Competence; D006282:Health Personnel; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D052756:Nutritional Sciences; D010239:Paraguay; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires