Munk T, Svendsen JA, Knudsen AW, Østergaard TB, Beck AM, et al.
Trials. Date of publication 2020 Apr 28;volume 21(1):365.
1. Trials. 2020 Apr 28;21(1):365. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04301-6.
Effect of nutritional interventions on discharged older patients: study protocol
for a randomized controlled trial.
Munk T(1), Svendsen JA(1), Knudsen AW(1), Østergaard TB(1), Beck AM(2)(3).
Author information:
(1)Dietetic and Nutritional Research Unit, Herlev-Gentofte University Hospital,
Herlev, Denmark.
(2)Dietetic and Nutritional Research Unit, Herlev-Gentofte University Hospital,
Herlev, Denmark. ambe@kp.dk.
(3)University College Copenhagen, Faculty of Health, Institute of Nursing and
Nutrition, Copenhagen, Denmark. ambe@kp.dk.
BACKGROUND: During hospitalization, many older patients are at nutritional risk
or malnourished, and their nutritional condition is often further impaired during
hospitalization. After discharge, a "nutrition gap" often occurs in which the
patient does not receive enough nutrition to ensure an optimal recovery.
METHODS: The study is a randomized controlled study ongoing over 112 days. At
discharge, the intervention group receives guidance from a clinical dietitian,
and an individualized nutrition plan is made. The dietitian will perform
telephone follow-up after 4 and 30 days. It will also be possible for the
participant, the participant's relatives, or the participant's municipality to
contact the dietitian if nutritional questions arise. At the time of discharge,
the intervention group will receive a package containing foods and drinks that
will cover their nutritional needs on the first day after discharge. They will
also receive a goodie bag containing samples of protein-rich, milk-based drinks.
Data are collected on quality of life, appetite, physical function, dietary
intake, weight, height, energy and protein needs, and experience of discharge and
cooperation with the municipality. Information about nutrition status will be
sent to the municipality so that the municipality can take over nutritional
treatment. The control group receives a standard treatment.
DISCUSSION: This study is the first to combine previously successful single
nutritional interventions into a multimodal intervention whose aim is to obtain
an effect on patient-related outcomes. We hope that the results will prove
beneficial and help to ensure the cross-sector quality of nutritional support to
older patients.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03488329. April 5, 2018.
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04301-6
PMCID: PMC7189460
PMID: 32345358 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
