Importance of Nutritional Training for Health Care Staff

Need for Improved Data

While stronger quality data is necessary to validate conclusions, current studies indicate that nutritional training for health care personnel could lead to shorter hospital stays, enhanced patient outcomes, and decreased overall health care expenses.

Impact of Poor Nutrition

Malnutrition is a significant concern across all settings, but it poses particular challenges for patients receiving medical care. Previous research has established that individuals who are malnourished and become ill face an increased risk of morbidity and often endure extended hospital stays. Additionally, a lack of nutritional expertise among hospital and home care staff has been identified as a critical issue.

Initiatives to Address Knowledge Gaps

In response to this knowledge gap, various countries have launched initiatives aimed at providing nutritional education to health care workers. Despite these efforts, limited analysis has been conducted to determine the actual impact of these initiatives on medical outcomes.

Recent Study on Nutritional Training Initiatives

Research Overview

A recent study published in the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition sought to evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional training initiatives. This study involved a review of existing research from six databases: Medline (1966–2015), EMBASE and EMBASE Classic, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, and the British Nursing Index.

Study Selection Criteria

The review identified 24 studies that met the eligibility criteria, focusing on nutritionally vulnerable adults in health care settings where training was provided to improve nutritional care. These studies were analyzed to assess the impact of training on both learner-based outcomes, such as nutritional knowledge and practice, as well as patient-based outcomes, which included body weight, nutritional intake, malnutrition prevalence, and functional status.

Findings and Implications

Learner-Based Outcomes

The analysis of the 24 studies suggested that nutrition training may positively influence the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of health care staff toward nutrition. However, the evidence supporting these findings was derived from studies of poor quality, with a significant risk of bias.

Patient-Based Outcomes

The review also examined patient outcomes in 13 of the 24 studies, which restricted the ability to draw reliable conclusions. Among these, only five studies reported on nutritional intake, with four suggesting that staff training could positively affect this metric. However, results concerning other patient outcomes, such as malnutrition prevalence, weight and body composition, and functional status, varied significantly across studies.

Recommendations for Future Research

The authors of the study propose that there is some evidence to support the notion that nutritional training for hospital and home care staff may yield beneficial health outcomes. Nonetheless, due to the poor quality of the available data, further randomized controlled trials are essential to gain a deeper understanding of the potential benefits and to identify the most effective training methods.

Source

Marples et al, “The effect of nutrition training for health care staff on learner and patient outcomes in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis” Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10.3945/ajcn.116.144808.

Written By: Linda Jensen