ObjectiveTo assess trends in documentation of medical nutrition practices over the course of a four‐year international partnership between hospital, academia and government, launched to address malnutrition at the main tertiary care hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam.MethodsThis study used a cross‐sectional time‐series design. Data were collected in 7 wards of Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi by systematically extracting information from medical records of all patients in the ward on 1 day each month. Descriptive analyses were conducted and data was analyzed with run charts to identify trends and shifts, using rules that are based on probability theory.ResultsSince the start of the project, 5 of 7 wards showed significant positive shifts in recording weights of patients at admission, and 4 of 7 showed positive shifts for recording height, indicating positive changes in nutrition screening behaviors. Figure 1 illustrates a positive shift in the Respiratory Ward in percentage of patients with weight taken and documented at admission. Additional significant shifts were found in the ICU and Surgery wards for use of nutrition screening tools and nutrition consults. imageConclusionData is critical to understand behavior change in a hospital intervention and allows practitioners to advocate for more support from the leadershipFunded by the Abbott Fund.

Background: Limited data on nutrition support practices in the hospital setting are available in the country of Vietnam. Methods: From October 2011‐December 2011, a collaboration between investigators from the U.S. and the Vietnamese National Institute of Nutrition enrolled 72 subjects admitted for elective GI surgery for this observational study at Bach Mai Hospital, a major Hanoi teaching hospital. Baseline height, weight, BMI, mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), body weight status, and daily kcal and protein/amino acid intake from oral diet, tube feeding, and IV feedings from admission until discharge were recorded. Results: Mean age of subjects was 56±15 years and length of stay 12±5 days. 50% of subjects scored a B or C (moderate to severe malnutrition) on the SGA. BMI range was 13‐28; 48% had a BMI < 18.5. MUAC was low normal (24±4 cm). All subjects lost weight during admission. Almost all patients (98%) were fed using parenteral nutrition (PN) postoperatively with oral feeding starting on postoperative day 4. Tube feedings were used in only one patient. Mean daily total calorie intake was 15 kcal/kg/day and protein intake was 0.61g/kg/day. Minimal or no micronutrient supplementation was given to most patients. Conclusions: Study findings support the development of a nutrition intervention with feeding protocols to increase postoperative energy and micronutrient intake.