Years of the research: 2015 - 2016
Country: Hungary
Language: Hungarian
Keywords:
Abstract:
In Hungary, more than 70.000 elderly live in nursing homes, where they are cared for an extended period of time. However, it is barely known how the assessment of nutritional status and the supply of clinical nutrition are implemented in Hungarian nursing facilities. Based on a profound literature review of e.g. Danish, Dutch, German and Austrian publications, I tried to summarize the most up-to-date researches on the international practice of nutrition in nursing homes. Several investigations are published concerning the malnutrition prevalence and the description of nutritional status in nursing homes; furthermore, the influence of nutritional supplement and physical activity on the morbidity and mortality of the elderly is also investigated. Some researches examine the impact and the cost-effectiveness of multidisciplinary nutritional support involving physiotherapist, dietitian and occupational therapist. Based on the reviewed publications, an exploratory research was performed in nursing homes in the capital of Hungary and in regional centres. Data were collected from questionnaires completed by nurses and dietitians as well as from patients’ medical documentations.
Researchers:
Type of research: national
Target group: elderly people
Sample:
Data were collected from 5 institutions including Hungarian capital and one county (Tolna), from 10 professionals (nurses and dietitians). Beside consultations with professionals, they filled a specific questionnaire with 47 patients those who were fed by clinical nutrition. The other questionnaire was actually a form of data collection; it surveyed staffing and material conditions in the institutions. These consultations were held with a total of 10 dietitians and head nurses in the institutions visited. They collected data in April 2015 but they would like to widen the sample in the near future.
Findings/outcome/conclusion/research questions:
As a summary of the results, it can be concluded that the assessment and monitoring of the nutritional status in the nursing homes are more widespread in the western countries than in Hungary. Often the nutritional supplement of Hungarian older people cannot be carried out due to financial problems and there is a lack of adequate equipment and health care workers e.g. nurses and dietitians. However, it is promising that no side effects associated to the clinical nutrition occur in the Hungarian nursing homes. The multidisciplinary approach of western countries should be implemented in Hungary as well and adequate education should be provided to the health care workers in order to improve the quality of nutritional care in nursing homes.
Publication/reports: In progress, a short poster was presented in Semmelweis PhD Scientific Meeting 2016. Former presentation in Hungarian Clinical Nutrition Association’s Conference 2014.
Online publication/reports/links:
http://phd.kmcongress.com/osszefoglalo/693
Financed by: The research is part of a PhD study
Contact person: Ágota Kovács, agota_55@hotmail.com
Copyright
“The Central and Eastern European Active Ageing Network database is protected by copyright law, under international agreements and the EC Database Directive 96/9/EC. The owner of the database is the Institute of Mental Health of Semmelweis University and the University of Debrecen Faculty of Health. Reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is not permitted without the prior written authorization of the [owner].”