Mealtime Assistance ... From Chaos to Calm: A Collaborative Best Practice Implementation Project. Issue 1 (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sykes, Pamela; Norris, Ian; Cook, Megan; Woods, Aaron; Boughton, Rachel; Chilcott, Kylie; Walsh, Kenneth
• Is Part Of: Journal of nursing care quality. Volume 34:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: audit and feedback -- best practice implementation project -- Joanna Briggs Institute Model for Evidence-Based Health Care -- mealtime assistance -- nursing -- nutritional care plan; Nursing -- Standards -- Periodicals; Nursing audit -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; Nurse administrators -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000352
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1057-3631

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Providing appropriate and timely mealtime assistance to hospitalized patients should be part of a multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach to optimizing a patient's nutritional care plan. Problem: There was anecdotal evidence at the study hospital that patients did not receive adequate and/or timely assistance at mealtimes. Approach: A best practice implementation project, using a proven strategy of audit, feedback, and reaudit, was used to effect practice change on an acute general medical ward. Outcomes: The combined interventions of staff engagement, redesigning the model of care to reprioritize activities at mealtimes, clarifying nutritional care roles and responsibilities, introducing a protected mealtime and a novel 2-tiered colored tray system, and implementing an awareness and education program have resulted in significant improvements in mealtime assistance. Conclusions: Success of the project is considered to be replicable and sustainable hospitalwide and more broadly. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.