title: Does adding a dietician to the liaison team after discharge of geriatric patients improve nutritional outcome: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to test whether adding a dietician to a discharge Liaison-Team after discharge of geriatric patients improves nutritional status, muscle strength and patient relevant outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve-week randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Geriatric patients (70 + years and at nutritional risk) at discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly allocated to receive discharge Liaison-Team vs. discharge Liaison-Team in cooperation with a dietician. The dietician performed a total of three home visits with the aim of developing and implementing an individual nutritional care plan. The first visit took place at the day of discharge together with the discharge Liaison-Team while the remaining visits took place approximately three and eight weeks after discharge and were performed by a dietician alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutritional status (weight, and dietary intake), muscle strength (hand grip strength, chair-stand), functional status (mobility, and activities of daily living), quality of life, use of social services, re-/hospitalization and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one patients were included (34 in the intervention group), and 63 (89%) completed the second data collection after 12 weeks (31 in the intervention group). Odds ratios for hospitalization and mortality 6 months after discharge were 0.367 (0.129; 1.042) and 0.323 (0.060; 1.724). Nutritional status improved and some positive tendencies in favour of the intervention group were observed for patient relevant outcomes, i.e. activities of daily living, and quality of life. Almost 100% of the intervention group received three home visits by a dietician.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adding a dietician to the discharge Liaison-Team after discharge of geriatric patients can improve nutritional status and may reduce the number of times hospitalized within 6 months. A larger study is necessary to see a significant effect on other patient relevant outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit (EFFECT), The Nordic Kitchen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark Anne.Marie.Beck@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit (EFFECT), The Nordic Kitchen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: U T
authors.initials: UT
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit (EFFECT), The Nordic Kitchen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leedo
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit (EFFECT), The Nordic Kitchen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit (EFFECT), The Nordic Kitchen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Unit for Cross-sectional Co-operation, Development and Research, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quvang
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit (EFFECT), The Nordic Kitchen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: K Ø
authors.initials: KØ
authors.lastname: Rask
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Unit (EFFECT), The Nordic Kitchen, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vedelspang
authors.affiliation: Medical Department O, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rønholt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003718:Denmark; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000379:methods; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D064686:Nutritionists / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Undernutrition; comprehensive nutritional support; dietician; discharge Liaison-Team