P.41 What do patients eat in hospital?

The role of the nurse in food service: A literature review and recommendations

“…There is ample evidence that the nutritional status of many patients tends to deteriorate during hospitalization 3 , 4 , 7 , 9 , 15 . It has been estimated that as many as two thirds of patients may experience a decline in nutritional status while in hospital, with negative energy balance 9 and reduction in lean body mass 7 .…”

“…Some medical disorders have associated gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and malabsorption 11 . These problems may also be side‐effects of drug treatments or surgery 15 . Physical disabilities such as difficulty with chewing or swallowing, 16 , 20 or with manipulating food and cutlery may also contribute 15 , 17 , 20 .…”

“…Several researchers indicate that the lack of attention paid to nutrition and food service by health professionals has exacerbated these problems 6 , 16 , 21 . Some hospital diets are of poor quality, or may be unappetizing due to overcooking, or delays between preparing and serving the meal 15 , 17 . However, even when the hospital diet is deemed nutritionally adequate, patients may consume insufficient or inappropriate food because nursing staff do not have the time to assist patients to choose wisely from the menu, or to encourage or help feed patients having difficulty, or to arrange alternative meals when diagnostic and medical procedures have precluded the taking of a meal at the scheduled time 16 , 17 …”

“…In many large hospitals the catering staff distribute and collect menus, prepare and plate meals centrally, and deliver and clear away food trays according to inflexible routines 17 . Nurses may not know what, or even if, their patients are eating 15 . It appears then that these administrative and managerial decisions may have contributed to the poor nutrition of patients in hospital.…”

“…Despite these reports, most hospitals pay only lip service to these recommendations 3 , 4 , 6 , 14 , 15 , 21 . In most acute care hospitals, the initial nursing assessment includes a section on basic nutritional status, with the intention of identifying patients needing extra nutritional care such as simple monitoring of food intake, assistance with feeding, diet supplements and sometimes referral to a dietitian.…”