title: Prevalence of 'being at risk of malnutrition' and associated factors in adult patients receiving nursing care at home in Belgium.
abstract: Malnutrition is a known problem in hospitals and nursing homes. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of being at risk of malnutrition in community living adults receiving homecare nursing and to determine factors independently associated with this risk of malnutrition. Furthermore, it also aimed to describe aspects of current nutritional nursing care. Patients (n = 100) are screened with the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool to evaluate their risk of malnutrition. A patient survey was used to analyse associated factors. In this population, 29% are at risk for malnutrition. Following a multivariate logistic regression analysis, 'loss of appetite' proved the most important factor. A survey for nurses (n = 61) revealed low awareness, poor knowledge, poor communication between stakeholders and a moderate approach of malnutrition. These findings should encourage homecare nurses to use a recommended screening tool for malnutrition and to actively observe and report loss of appetite to initiate the prescription of individual tailored interventions. Belgian homecare nurses' management does not yet fully comply with international recommendations. Additional training in nutritional nursing care and screening methods for malnutrition is needed. Systematic screening should be further developed and evaluated in this at-risk population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.|Department of Health Care, Karel de Grote University College, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Geurden
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.|Department of Health Care, Karel de Grote University College, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franck MPsych
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care, Karel de Grote University College, Antwerp, Belgium.|Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weyler
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Surgery & Transplantation, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ysebaert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: anorexia; home health aides; homecare services; malnutrition; nurses