title: Nutritional care of elderly patients in acute care settings: A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Poor nutritional status is common in older adult patients. The present study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to nutritional care of elderly patients in acute care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through individual face-to-face interviews with 12 registered nurses, and analyzed using interpretive description methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two core themes emerged from the analysis of data: (i) neglected care, with three subthemes of "support but also independence," "unsupportive environment" and "responsibility of the family;" and (ii) a humanitarian ethic, with two subthemes of "respect and dignity" and "humanitarian care."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an integral part of holistic care, elderly patient nutrition should be emphasised in health professional education, and promoted through managerial support, multidisciplinary collaborations, and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gholizadeh
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Khadijeh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yazdi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dehghan Nayeri
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Eesa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003422:Critical Care; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D044623:Nutrition Therapy; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: acute care setting; elderly; nursing; nutrition; qualitative study