Harnessing delegation and technology to identify and manage malnutrition in a digital hospital: An implementation study.

Aims: Delegation of nutrition care activities to Dietetic Assistants in hospitals has been identified as one innovative malnutrition model of care, but there has been limited evaluation of their roles. This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate a new Malnutrition Model of Care embracing automated delegation and digital systems.

Methods: The Malnutrition Model of Care was created to detect patients at risk of malnutrition (using the Malnutrition Screening Tool) and nutritional decline (via routine intake tracking at all meals and snacks).

Facing Power: Navigating Power Dynamics in a Youth Participatory Action Research Project Situated within a Healthcare Setting.

Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) is oftentimes cited as a method guided by social justice principles to uplift youth voice and pursue youth priorities in research. However, to uphold these principles, YPAR researchers must address how youth and adults alike negotiate power differentials to be equal partners in research and scholarship. We explore YPAR power sharing through a reflexive thematic analysis of in-depth, semi-structured interviews (n= 42) and focus groups (n=2) conducted at three timepoints (baseline, mid-point, and exit) with youth (n=8) and adult (n=6) researchers engaged in a YPAR exploring health equity at a large, safety-net hospital.

The Australian Frailty Network: Development of a consumer-focussed national response to frailty.

Frailty is an important concept in the care of older adults. Over the past two decades, significant advances have been made in measuring frailty. While it is now well-recognised that frailty status is an important determinant of outcomes from medical illnesses or surgical interventions, frailty measurement is not currently routinely integrated into clinical practice.

Exploring adult inpatients' perceptions, understanding and preferences regarding the term 'malnutrition': A qualitative study.

Aims: To explore adult inpatients' perceptions, understanding and preferences regarding the term 'malnutrition' and to identify the terms that adult inpatients report are used by themselves and health workers to describe malnutrition.

Design: This qualitative study was conducted using data collected for a separate qualitative study that investigated factors that influence the dietary intake of long-stay, acute adult inpatients.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of current inpatients.

Incidence and outcomes of in-hospital nutritional decline: A prospective observational cohort study in adult patients.

Background And Aims: Hospital malnutrition is associated with higher healthcare costs and worse outcomes. Only a few prospective studies have evaluated trends in nutritional status during an acute stay, but these studies were limited by the short timeframe between nutrition assessments. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in nutritional status, incidence of hospital-acquired malnutrition (HAM), and the associated risk factors and outcomes in acute adult patients admitted for >14 days.

Exploring hospital mealtime experiences of older inpatients, caregivers and staff using photovoice methods.

Aim: To gather and understand the experience of hospital mealtimes from the perspectives of those receiving and delivering mealtime care (older inpatients, caregivers and staff) using photovoice methods to identify touchpoints and themes to inform the co-design of new mealtime interventions.

Methods: This study was undertaken on acute care wards within a single metropolitan hospital in Brisbane, Australia in 2019. Photovoice methods involved a researcher accompanying 21 participants (10 older patients, 5 caregivers, 4 nurses and 2 food service officers) during a mealtime and documenting meaningful elements using photographs and field notes.

Mealtimes matter: Measuring the hospital mealtime environment and care practices to identify opportunities for multidisciplinary improvement.

Aims: Hospital inpatients often eat poorly and report barriers related to mealtime care. This study aimed to measure and describe the mealtime environment and care practices across 16 acute wards in a tertiary hospital to identify opportunities for improvement.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional audit was undertaken over a two-month period in 2021.

Sustainability of enhanced recovery after surgery programmes in gastrointestinal surgery: A scoping review.

Background: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based intervention that is well-recognised across multiple surgical specialties as having potential to lead to improved patient and hospital outcomes. Little is known about sustainability of ERAS programmes.

Aims: This review aimed to describe available evidence evaluating sustainability of ERAS programmes in gastrointestinal surgery to understand: (a) how sustainability has been defined; (b) examine determinants of sustainability; (c) identify strategies used to facilitate sustainability; (d) identify adaptations to support sustainability; and (e) examine outcomes measured as indicators of sustainability of ERAS programmes.

Putting Guidelines Into Practice: Is Frailty Measurement at the Time of Kidney Transplant Eligibility Assessment Valid, Feasible, and Acceptable to Patients?

Background: Clinical Practice Guidelines suggest that frailty be measured during kidney transplant eligibility assessments. Yet it is not known how frailty is best assessed in this setting or whether its assessment is acceptable to patients. We aimed to examine the construct validity and feasibility of Frailty Index (FI) assessment among patients attending a kidney transplant assessment clinic and to explore patients' perspectives on frailty and the acceptability of its routine assessment.

Enhancing or impeding? The influence of digital systems on interprofessional practice and person-centred care in nutrition care systems across rehabilitation units.

Aims: Digital health transformation may enhance or impede person-centred care and interprofessional practice, and thus the provision of high-quality rehabilitation and nutrition services. We aimed to understand how different elements and factors within existing digital nutrition and health systems in subacute rehabilitation units influence person-centred and/or interprofessional nutrition and mealtime care practices through the lens of complexity science.

Methods: Our ethnographic study was completed through an interpretivist paradigm.

An ethnographic study exploring person-centred nutrition care in rehabilitation units.

Purpose: Person-centred care (PCC) is an essential component of high-quality healthcare across professions and care settings. While research is emerging in subacute nutrition services more broadly, there is limited literature exploring the person-centredness of nutrition care in rehabilitation. This study aimed to explore person-centred nutrition care (PCNC) in rehabilitation units, as described and actioned by patients, support persons and staff.

Partnering with consumers to co-design a person-centred coding framework for qualitative patient experience data.

Background: Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) provide health organisations insight into how 'person-centric' care is. Qualitative data in PREMs surveys provide essential context about experience but are challenging to analyse at an organisational level.

Objective: To co-design a person-centred coding framework to assist in the analysis of qualitative PREMs data.

Opportunity, hierarchy, and awareness: an ethnographic exploration across rehabilitation units of interprofessional practice in nutrition and mealtime care.

Interprofessional practice is increasingly cited as necessary in the delivery of high-quality nutrition and rehabilitation services. However, there is limited evidence available exploring the factors which influence interprofessional practice in subacute rehabilitation nutrition services. Our ethnographic study explored collaborative activities, influential factors and staff attitudes related to interprofessional practice in nutrition care.

Frailty knowledge, training and barriers to frailty management: A national cross-sectional survey of health professionals in Australia.

Objective(s): To understand Australian health professionals' perceptions of their knowledge and previous training about frailty, as well as barriers to frailty assessment and management in their practice.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was developed and distributed to health professionals (medical, nursing and allied health) engaged in clinical practice in Australia through convenience and snowball sampling techniques from March to May 2022. The survey consisted of five sections: frailty training and knowledge; confidence in recognising and managing adults with frailty; the importance and relevance of frailty; barriers to assessing and managing frailty in practice; and interest in further frailty training.

Bringing researchers to the consumer table: The process and outcomes of a consumer roundtable on telehealth.

Introduction: Despite the significant expansion and rapid uptake of telehealth services as a COVID-19 response, the pandemic restricted opportunities to involve health consumers in telehealth research. Authentic consumer and community involvement in research begins with engagement in priority-setting. We report here on the process and outcomes of a consumer-led event intended to support involvement of consumers, from early in the research process.

Implementing a ward-based programme to improve care for older inpatients: process evaluation of the cluster randomised CHERISH trial.

Background: Older inpatients are at high risk of hospital-associated complications, particularly delirium and functional decline. These can be mitigated by consistent attention to age-friendly care practices such as early mobility, adequate nutrition and hydration, and meaningful cognitive and social activities. Eat Walk Engage is a ward-based improvement programme theoretically informed by the i-PARIHS framework which significantly reduced delirium in a four-hospital cluster trial.

'Just because we're younger doesn't mean our opinions should be any less valued': A qualitative study of youth perspectives on a Youth Advisory Council in a mental healthcare context.

Introduction: Recognition of the importance of youth engagement in youth mental health and/or addiction (MHA) service design and delivery is increasing. Youth Advisory Councils embedded in MHA organizations represent one strategy that allows youth to be involved in MHA at the individual, organization and systemic levels. This level of involvement can facilitate positive outcomes for both the youth and the organization.

Use and safety of enteral nutrition protocols in acute care: A scoping review of literature and retrospective audit of practice.

Aim: Standardised enteral nutrition protocols are recommended in critical care, however their use and safety are not well described in other inpatient populations. This mixed methods study reports on the use and safety of enteral nutrition protocols for non-critically ill adults.

Methods: A scoping review of published literature was conducted.

Are Malnourished Inpatients Treated by Dietitians Active Participants in Their Nutrition Care? Findings of an Exploratory Study of Patient-Reported Measures across Nine Australian Hospitals.

Background: Inpatient malnutrition is a key determinant of adverse patient and healthcare outcomes. The engagement of patients as active participants in nutrition care processes that support informed consent, care planning and shared decision making is recommended and has expected benefits. This study applied patient-reported measures to identify the proportion of malnourished inpatients seen by dietitians that reported engagement in key nutrition care processes.

Developing a knowledge translation program for health practitioners: Allied Health Translating Research into Practice.

Background: Front-line health practitioners lack confidence in knowledge translation, yet they are often required to undertake projects to bridge the knowledge-practice gap. There are few initiatives focused on building the capacity of the health practitioner workforce to undertake knowledge translation, with most programs focusing on developing the skills of researchers. This paper reports the development and evaluation of a knowledge translation capacity building program for allied health practitioners located over geographically dispersed locations in Queensland, Australia.