The framework for Pediatric Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care (P-INPAC) was developed by the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force (CMTF); however, it has not been implemented in a research setting. The framework by CMTF for Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care (INPAC) in adults was also implemented in the "More-2-Eat" project which led to development of best practices in nutritional culture of the hospitals. Therefore, we intend to undertake this feasibility project at 3-sites to train staff and evaluate the implementation of P-INPAC components as part of routine healthcare procedure.
The P-INPAC pilot study will be a 3-phase multi-center research study in hospitalized children, conducted at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, and two other Canadian pediatric centres: Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Quebec and McMaster Children's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario. P-INPAC is an algorithm which helps to identify, assess, and treat children with malnutrition. In the first phase of the study, we will perform an audit of health records of all hospitalized patients at one selected study ward, one day of every other week for 8 weeks, at each of the 3 study sites to track their routine nutrition care. We anticipate auditing 80-100 patients/site in this cycle (total 240-300 patients). In addition, ≈12- 20 patients/ site (≈ 60 in total) who consent to detailed malnutrition screening and assessment would also be identified, assessed, and followed up one month after discharge. In addition, a questionnaire assessing the malnutrition knowledge, attitude, and self-perceived practices (KAP) amongst healthcare professionals will be conducted with staff, including trainees, at each site's study ward. Further, the workload of the study ward's Registered Dietitian (RD) will be assessed for 3 days. In the second phase of the study, the health care team from each site's study ward will be trained by the site implementation research team about the P-INPAC, and how to administer nutritional screening and perform nutritional assessments, which is the Subjective Global Nutrition Assessment (SGNA). Finally, in the third phase, we will monitor and evaluate the implementation of the first 2 steps of the P-INPAC (screening \& assessment) over a period of 4 months assessing the acceptability, adoption, and coverage of improved nutrition care practices on the same pediatric study wards. We anticipate auditing 160-200 patients/site in this cycle (total 480-600 patients). In addition, detailed patient level data collection will take place in a selected group of consented patients, ≈24-40 patients per site from the 3 sites (≈120 in total). We would also follow-up with these patients a month after discharge. Healthcare providers will be invited to answer the KAP questionnaire post-implementation version. We will compare responses from phase 1 with phase 3 (pre-/ post-follow up). And, the workload of the ward RD will be assessed again over 3 days.
The pediatric working group of Canadian Malnutrition Task Force has developed an evidence-informed algorithm named the Pediatric Integrated Nutrition Pathway for Acute Care (P-INPAC). The P-INPAC outlines a process to improve nutrition care by: 1. implementing nutrition screening at point-of-admission 2. introducing standard care measures to prevent the development of malnutrition in children admitted with normal nutrition status, including standardizing the process of monitoring food intake early and systematically to identify when standard care measures are not sufficient 3. ensuring the moderately and severely malnourished patients receive timely specialized care in the form of a comprehensive assessment and treatment; and 4. ensuring moderately and severely malnourished patients receive adequate post discharge follow-up and nutrition care. In this pilot study, we will be implementing the first two steps of P-INPAC only (screening and assessment).
McMaster Children's Hospital
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
The Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ste-Justine UHC
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Baseline nutrition risk screening using STRONGkids or PNST
Determine routine standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 1 of study using a validated tool, such as, STRONGkids or PNST.
Time frame: 2-month period (phase 1)
Baseline nutrition risk screening using weight
Determine routine standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 1 of study using routine anthropometrics - weight
Time frame: 2-month period (phase 1)
Baseline nutrition risk screening using height or length
Determine routine standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 1 of study using routine anthropometrics - height or length in children under 2 years of age
Time frame: 2-month period (phase 1)
Baseline nutrition risk screening using head circumference
Determine routine standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 1 of study using routine anthropometrics - head circumference in children under 2 years of age
Time frame: 2-month period (phase 1)
Determine baseline knowledge among healthcare providers using the KAP questionnaire
Determine baseline knowledge among healthcare providers on recognizing malnutrition and its management in hospitalized children, including perceived barriers and practices, using the KAP questionnaire
Time frame: 2-month period (phase 1)
Determine changes in knowledge among healthcare providers using the KAP questionnaire
Determine changes in knowledge among healthcare providers on recognizing malnutrition and its management in hospitalized children in Phase 3, including perceived barriers and practices, using the KAP questionnaire after training was completed in phase 2
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Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
600
Time frame: 4-month period (phase 3)
Determine success with training and feasibility of nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children using STRONGkids and PNST
Determine success with training and feasibility of implementing the P-INPAC framework by assessing changes in standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 3 of study using a validated tool, such as, STRONGkids and PNST
Time frame: 4-month period (phase 3)
Determine success with training and feasibility of nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children using weight
Determine success with training and feasibility of implementing the P-INPAC framework by assessing changes in standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 3 of study using routine anthropometrics - weight
Time frame: 4-month period (phase 3)
Determine success with training and feasibility of nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children using height/ length
Determine success with training and feasibility of implementing the P-INPAC framework by assessing changes in standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 3 of study using routine anthropometrics - height or length in children under 2 years of age
Time frame: 4-month period (phase 3)
Determine success with training and feasibility of nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children using head circumference
Determine success with training and feasibility of implementing the P-INPAC framework by assessing changes in standard nutritional care practices related to nutrition risk screening in hospitalized children during phase 3 of study using routine anthropometrics - head circumference in children under 2 years of age
Time frame: 4-month period (phase 3)