Maintaining nutrition in aged care residents with a train-the-trainer intervention and Nutrition Coordinator.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of a train-the-trainer program on the nutritional status of older people in residential care.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized controlled study.


METHODS
Eight nursing homes in Southeast Queensland, Australia.


METHODS
A total of 352 residents participated - 245 were female (69.6%). The mean age was 84.2 years and the majority (79.4%) were classified as high dependency.


METHODS
Residents from four nursing homes were randomly selected for a nutrition education program coordinated by Nutrition Coordinators. Residents from the other four nursing homes (control) received usual care.


METHODS
The Subjective Global Assessment was used to determine prevalence of malnutrition at baseline and six months post intervention. The Resident Classification Scale measured functional dependency. Prescribed diet, fluids, oral hygiene status and allied health referrals were obtained by chart audit.


RESULTS
Approximately half the residents were well nourished with 49.4% moderately or severely malnourished. Residents in the intervention group were more likely to maintain or improve their nutritional status compared with the control group who were more likely to experience a deterioration (P=0.027). The odds of the control group being malnourished post test was 1.6 times more likely compared with the intervention group but this did not reach statistical significance (P=0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study encourage the implementation of a Nutrition Coordinator program to maintain nutritional status of aged care residents. Nevertheless, malnutrition rates continue to be unacceptably high. In a rapidly aging society, the aged care sector needs to confront malnutrition and provide better resources for staff to take measures against this problem.
Gaskill
D
D
School of Nursing & Midwifery, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. d.gaskill@qut.edu.au
Isenring
E A
EA
Black
L J
LJ
Hassall
S
S
Bauer
J D
JD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology