Use of oral nutrition supplements in long-term care facilities.
OBJECTIVE
Practices related to oral nutrition supplement (ONS) use were examined in elderly people living in long-term care (LTC) facilities.


METHODS
Thirteen LTC facilities within a large regional health authority participated, and 17 people responsible for prescribing ONS in their facilities were interviewed, using a key informant telephone survey. A survey on ONS practice was modified, pilot tested, and used.


RESULTS
Oral nutrition supplements were primarily prescribed by nursing staff (59%), followed by physicians, registered dietitians, or other staff; ONS use was prescribed for decreased intake, unintentional weight loss, or wound healing. Various ONS products (e.g., Ensure, Boost, or Resource 2.0) were prescribed. Only 18% of respondents reported using alternative food options first to supplement nutritional intake, before introducing ONS. In terms of follow-up and evaluation, the measures of improvement included weight gain, wound healing, or improved well-being; reasons for discontinuation included weight gain, increased intake, or death.


CONCLUSIONS
Within LTC settings, the prescription and monitoring of ONS vary considerably. Evidence-based guidelines for the prescription and monitoring of ONS and for the use of a food-first strategy should be developed, implemented, and evaluated to optimize the nutritional health of the elderly in LTC facilities.
Johnson
Shanthi
S
Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada.
Nasser
Roseann
R
Banow
Tiffany
T
Cockburn
Tanya
T
Voegeli
Leah
L
Wilson
Orina
O
Coleman
Jean
J
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012525:Saskatchewan