Doctors and nurses on wards with greater access to clinical dietitians have better focus on clinical nutrition

Lene Thoresen*, E. Rothenberg, A. M. Beck, Irtun, Ingvar Bosaeus, Anne Berit, Ulla Johansson, Jens Kondrup (Member of study group), Hanne Kristensen, Karin Ladefoged, Jörgen Larsson, Karen Lindorff-Larsen, Morten Mowé, Henrik Højgaard Rasmussen (Member of study group), Michael Staun (Member of study group), Christina Stene, Mitra Unosson, Anne Wengler, Hilde Wøien

*Corresponding author for this work
32 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: According to the Council of Europe, clinical dietitians should assume a more central role in nutritional support. The aim of this study was to assess the opinions among doctors, nurses and clinical dietitians regarding the use of clinical dietitians'expertise in the hospital units and, further, to assess whether the presence of clinical dietitians in hospital departments influenced doctors and nurses focus on clinical nutrition. Methods: A questionnaire about the use of clinical nutrition was mailed to 6000 doctors and 6000 nurses working in hospital units where undernutrition is documented to be common, as well as to 678 clinical dietitians working in Scandinavian hospitals. Results: The response rate of clinical dietitians, nurses and doctors were 53%, 46% and 29%, respectively. Nurses and doctors who saw clinical dietitians often found it less difficult to identify undernourished patients and found that insight into the importance of adequate nutrition was better than those who saw clinical dietitians seldom. Clinical nutrition had a higher priority in units with frequent visits by clinical dietitians. Conclusions: The present study shows that doctors and nurses on wards with greater access to clinical dietitians had better focus on clinical nutrition.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Volume21
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)239-247
Number of pages9
ISSN0952-3871
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dietetic role
  • Hospital undernutrition
  • Multidisciplinary nutritional support

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