title: A qualitative difference. Patients' views of hospital food service in Iran.
abstract: Undernutrition and food acceptability in hospitals form a worldwide problem, but existing studies offer a predominantly Western perspective. This research investigated inpatients' satisfaction with meals in five Iranian hospitals, using focus group discussions, interviews and meal observations. The main problem areas included food quality and quantity, nutritional control, meal arrangements and staff attitudes. Iran's hospitals follow a Western model, which may be appropriate for medical systems, but is less so for patient feeding, due to budgetary constraints and cultural factors. Understanding patients' experience makes it possible to improve feeding arrangements, with a positive impact upon patients' nutrition.
authors: Obesity Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Mahsa
authors: M
authors: Jessri
authors: Parvin
authors: P
authors: Mirmiran
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Jessri
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Johns
authors: Bahram
authors: B
authors: Rashidkhani
authors: Parisa
authors: P
authors: Amiri
authors: Nasrin
authors: N
authors: Barfmal
authors: Fereidoun
authors: F
authors: Azizi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005502:Food; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008612:Menu Planning; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult