Assessment of hospital malnutrition care practices: The case of a low middle income country

Abstract

Background & aims: To improve hospital malnutrition care, assessing actual malnutrition practices and knowledge is essential. Our objectives are to assess malnutrition care practices, evaluate dietitians' malnutrition knowledge, and explore barriers and facilitators to optimal malnutrition care in a LMIC hospitals.

Methods: This is a national cross-sectional study of mixed-method design. Two questionnaires from the Malnutrition Quality Improvement Initiative were used to assess malnutrition care practices and dietitians' malnutrition knowledge. In-depth interviews were used to investigate barriers and facilitators to optimal malnutrition care.

Results: Mean average for malnutrition care practices score was 20.96 out of 30 (N = 56). Factors affecting malnutrition practices were: (1) private/public affiliation of the hospital and (2) presence of a documented malnutrition protocol. Dietitians (N = 62) working at academic hospitals scored 57% for malnutrition knowledge which was higher than the score for those working at non-academic hospitals (44%). Gaps in malnutrition knowledge among hospital staff, shortage in hospital staff, and lack of financial coverage for nutrition therapy were the main barriers identified from eight in-depth interviews.

Conclusion: Efforts should be taken by decision makers to facilitate malnutrition care and increase malnutrition awareness among healthcare professionals.

Keywords: Malnutrition care practice; Malnutrition knowledge.