Evaluation of the activity and medical nutrition therapy types used by nutrition support teams in hospitals in the Greater Poland voivodeship

Abstract

Introduction Nutrition therapy is medical treatment that includes assessment of patients’ nutritional status, their nutrient requirements, supply of nutritional products in appropriate quantities, and monitoring all of these processes. The nutrition support team is responsible for the organization of the nutrition therapy. Aim To evaluate the activity of nutrition support teams in hospitals in the Greater Poland voivodeship. Material and methods An evaluation of nutrition support teams’ activity and the types of nutrition therapy used in hospitals in the Greater Poland voivodeship was made. In order to collect all the necessary data, a questionnaire with closed-ended questions was sent to all hospitals registered in the voivodeship. Results Out of 25 hospitals that returned the completed questionnaire, 15 (60.0%) confirmed the presence of a nutrition support team in their structures. In previous reports it was 17 centres (68.0%) that had such team, but sometimes the team was not working to its full extent. 73.0% of hospitals were satisfied with both the presence of the team and its activity concerning proper fulfilment of entrusted tasks. The activity of nutrition support teams in the Greater Poland voivodeship correlated closely with the size of the hospital. Conclusions Nutrition support teams function in the majority of hospitals in the Greater Poland voivodeship. Nutrition teams are more common in larger hospitals. In order to provide proper medical nutrition therapy, the legal obligation to appoint nutrition support teams in the hospitals should be restored.