The purpose of this study is to determine whether individualised nutritional therapy comprised of appetising, energy- and protein-rich foods can have a positive effect on physiological function and quality of life of undernourished patients as compared to usual nutrition care.
Undernutrition and insufficent dietary intake in hospitalised patients is a widespread problem. It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, worsened physiological function and quality of life and increased expenses for the health care system. Food quality has been shown to be positively associated with dietary intake in patients. However, there has lacked knowledge on how food quality can be optimised to promote intake. A project was therefore initiated, which aimed at establishing a framework for developing appetising, energy- and protein-rich foods for patients at nutritional risk. This project included qualitative and quantitative investigation of nutritional risk patients' meal experiences and preferences (se citations below). These results have served as a basis for optimsing energy- and protein-rich foods as part of an indivudalised nutritional therapy aimed at improving dietary intake in nutritional risk patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
80
Nutritional therapy as based on previous results of the project on patient meal experiences and preferences (note citations below) and comprising of: * Thorough sensory and nutrition assessment (questionnaire). * Nutrition plan adjusted daily according to the assessment. * Serving appetising, energy- and protein-dense meals, snacks and drinks.
Nutritional therapy according to current practice and general nutrition advice.
Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, Denmark
RECRUITINGIntake
Expressed as energy and protein balance (percent of calculated requirements met by intake as per daily dietary recording)
Time frame: Study period during admission in hopsital
Handgrip strength
Grip track dynamometer (3 trials)
Time frame: Study period during admission in hopsital
Reaction time
Test for Attentional Performance (TAP version 2, Psytest) Go/NoGo
Time frame: Study period during admission in hopsital
Quality of life
Short Form 36v2 Health Survey (SF36)
Time frame: 28 days
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