Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals
Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of malnutrition among adult hospitalised patients in three South African public hospitals and to determine the availability of nutrition-related quality indicators at ward and institutional level. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2019-01-01
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| Series: | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2017.1410003 |
| _version_ | 1797678778963460096 |
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| author | Esmarie van Tonder Lynn Gardner Saskia Cressey Reinette Tydeman-Edwards Karin Gerber |
| author_facet | Esmarie van Tonder Lynn Gardner Saskia Cressey Reinette Tydeman-Edwards Karin Gerber |
| author_sort | Esmarie van Tonder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of malnutrition among adult hospitalised patients in three South African public hospitals and to determine the availability of nutrition-related quality indicators at ward and institutional level. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-centre study was used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition, whilst a descriptive exploratory design was used to determine the use of nutrition-related quality indicators for the identification and treatment of malnutrition. A total of 141 adult hospitalised patients in three public hospitals in an urban setting participated. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), body mass index (BMI), and malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) were used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition or malnutrition risk. A Hospital Nutrition Review Tool (HNRT) determined the use of nutrition-related quality indicators. Results: The overall malnutrition risk according to MUST was 72.3% (48.2% high risk and 24.1% medium risk), whilst 45.4% were malnourished based on MUAC. No routine nutritional screening was conducted in any of the wards to identify patients at nutritional risk. The majority of nurses reported inadequate training or knowledge to calculate patients’ BMI or percentage weight loss, or to perform nutritional screening. Conclusion: Both malnutrition prevalence and malnutrition risk among adult hospitalised patients are high in the public sector. Inadequate resources may lead to delays in malnutrition identification and appropriate nutritional intervention, which may adversely affect both the patient and the institution. This study contributes to baseline data on adult malnutrition in the South African public hospital setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c787b875b1634cfe9d4263851d591e8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1607-0658 2221-1268 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:04:41Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-c787b875b1634cfe9d4263851d591e8c2023-09-21T13:38:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupThe South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition1607-06582221-12682019-01-013211710.1080/16070658.2017.14100031410003Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitalsEsmarie van Tonder0Lynn Gardner1Saskia Cressey2Reinette Tydeman-Edwards3Karin Gerber4Nelson Mandela UniversityArea Military Health UnitBotshabelo HospitalPort Elizabeth Provincial HospitalNelson Mandela UniversityObjectives: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of malnutrition among adult hospitalised patients in three South African public hospitals and to determine the availability of nutrition-related quality indicators at ward and institutional level. Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-centre study was used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition, whilst a descriptive exploratory design was used to determine the use of nutrition-related quality indicators for the identification and treatment of malnutrition. A total of 141 adult hospitalised patients in three public hospitals in an urban setting participated. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), body mass index (BMI), and malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) were used to determine the prevalence of malnutrition or malnutrition risk. A Hospital Nutrition Review Tool (HNRT) determined the use of nutrition-related quality indicators. Results: The overall malnutrition risk according to MUST was 72.3% (48.2% high risk and 24.1% medium risk), whilst 45.4% were malnourished based on MUAC. No routine nutritional screening was conducted in any of the wards to identify patients at nutritional risk. The majority of nurses reported inadequate training or knowledge to calculate patients’ BMI or percentage weight loss, or to perform nutritional screening. Conclusion: Both malnutrition prevalence and malnutrition risk among adult hospitalised patients are high in the public sector. Inadequate resources may lead to delays in malnutrition identification and appropriate nutritional intervention, which may adversely affect both the patient and the institution. This study contributes to baseline data on adult malnutrition in the South African public hospital setting.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2017.1410003adultshospitalisedmalnutritionhospitalisednutrition-related quality indicatorsprevalencescreening |
| spellingShingle | Esmarie van Tonder Lynn Gardner Saskia Cressey Reinette Tydeman-Edwards Karin Gerber Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals The South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition adults hospitalised malnutrition hospitalised nutrition-related quality indicators prevalence screening |
| title | Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals |
| title_full | Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals |
| title_fullStr | Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals |
| title_short | Adult malnutrition: prevalence and use of nutrition-related quality indicators in South African public-sector hospitals |
| title_sort | adult malnutrition prevalence and use of nutrition related quality indicators in south african public sector hospitals |
| topic | adults hospitalised malnutrition hospitalised nutrition-related quality indicators prevalence screening |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16070658.2017.1410003 |
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