Effect of supplements/intensive nutrition on pressure ulcer healing: a multicentre, randomised controlled study.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of an intensive nutrition intervention or use of wound healing supplements compared with standard nutritional care in pressure ulcer (PU) healing in hospitalised patients.

Method: Adult patients with a Stage II or greater PU and predicted length of stay (LOS) of at least seven days were eligible for inclusion in this pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial (RCT). Patients with a PU were randomised to receive either: standard nutritional care (n=46); intensive nutritional care delivered by a dietitian (n=42); or standard care plus provision of a wound healing nutritional formula (n=43).

Underreporting of Obesity in Hospital Inpatients: A Comparison of Body Mass Index and Administrative Documentation in Australian Hospitals.

Despite its high prevalence, there is no systematic approach to documenting and coding obesity in hospitals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among inpatients, the proportion of obese patients recognised as obese by hospital administration, and the cost associated with their admission. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in three hospitals in Queensland, Australia.

The association of malnutrition with falls and harm from falls in hospital inpatients: Findings from a 5-year observational study.

Background: Inpatient falls continue to be a significant clinical issue, and while malnutrition is a known risk factors for falls, few studies have investigated its association with inpatient falls. This study aimed to explore the independent association between malnutrition and fall risk as well as harm from falls in hospital inpatients.

Methods: Malnutrition identified in annual malnutrition audits was combined with inpatient fall data captured through the electronic patient incident reporting system in the 12 months following audit days.

Malnutrition is independently associated with skin tears in hospital inpatient setting-Findings of a 6-year point prevalence audit.

Skin tears cause pain, increased length of stay, increased costs, and reduced quality of life. Minimal research reports the association between skin tears, and malnutrition using robust measures of nutritional status. This study aimed to articulate the association between malnutrition and skin tears in hospital inpatients using a yearly point prevalence of inpatients included in the Queensland Patient Safety Bedside Audit, malnutrition audits and skin tear audits conducted at a metropolitan tertiary hospital between 2010 and 2015.

The pressures of obesity: The relationship between obesity, malnutrition and pressure injuries in hospital inpatients.

Background: Pressure injuries (PI) are a significant clinical problem across all healthcare facilities, associated with poor patient outcomes, increased length of stay and healthcare costs. Whilst it is known that underweight (Body Mass Index (BMI) < 18.5 kg/m) and malnourished individuals have an increased risk of developing PI, few studies have investigated the effects of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m) and morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m) on PI prevalence.