title: Nurses' views and experiences of caring for malnourished patients in surgical settings in Saudi Arabia - a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the occurrence of malnutrition in hospitals is a growing concern, little is known about how hospital staff understand the care that nurses provide to patients with malnutrition. The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' views and experiences of caring for malnourished patients in Saudi Arabia (KSA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a qualitative explorative design, fifteen nurses were interviewed as part of a purposive sample hospital staff. The transcripts were analyzed using latent content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nurses spontaneously and consistently linked malnutrition with physical inactivity. The two main categories, which emerged, were: 'Potentials for nurses to provide good nutrition and physical activity', and 'Having the ability but not the power to promote proper nutrition and physical activity'. These arose from the subcategories: Good nursing implies providing appropriate health education; Acknowledging the Mourafiq (sitter) as a potential resource for the nursing, but also as a burden; Inadequate control and lack of influence; Cultural diversity and lack of dialog; and Views of women's weight gain in KSA society.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nurses felt they have the capacity and passion to further improve the nutrition and activity of their patients, but obstacles in the health care system are impeding these ambitions. The implications for nursing practice could be acknowledgement of the nurses' views in the clinical practice; culturally adjusted care, improved communication and enhanced language skills.
authors.affiliation: The PRO-CARE Group, School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University, Elmetorpsvägen 15, S-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden ; The Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Atika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalaf
authors.affiliation: The PRO-CARE Group, School of Health and Society, Kristianstad University, Elmetorpsvägen 15, S-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Westergren
authors.affiliation: Åstrand Laboratory of Work Physiology, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Orjan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ekblom
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Exercise Physiology Research Laboratory, College of Education and Obesity Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hazzaa M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Hazzaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Medical Faculty, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berggren
keywords: Malnutrition; Nurse’s views; Nursing; Physical activity; Saudi Arabia