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Nutrition education for care staff and possible effects on nutritional status in residents of sheltered accomodation

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 947–954 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

We investigated the nutritional, cognitive and functional status in residents of two service-flat (SF) complexes and the effects of a nutrition education programme for care staff.

Design:

Controlled nonrandomised study.

Setting:

Two SF complexes, that is community-assisted accommodation.

Subjects:

Of 115 eligible SF residents, 80 subjects participated (age 83±7 y, 70% women).

Intervention:

The nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), subjective global assessment (SGA), serum concentrations of albumin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and vitamin B12. Cognitive and functional status were evaluated using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE, 0–30 points, <24 points indicates impaired cognition) and the Katz activities of daily living (ADL) index, respectively. Two assessments were made with a 5-month interval. At the start, a 12-h education programme was given to the staff at one of the SF complexes.

Results:

At baseline, the means of BMI and the biochemical nutritional indices were normal, whereas one-third had BMI <22 kg/m2 and one-fourth had lost ≥10% of previous weight. According to SGA, 30% demonstrated possible or serious malnutrition. The median MMSE was 23 points (19.5–26.5, 25–75th percentile). Nearly 70% were ADL-independent. At the 5-month follow-up there were no differences in the nutritional and cognitive status of the residents. The nutritional knowledge of the staff improved slightly (P<0.05) at both SF complexes (NS between groups).

Conclusions:

Around one-third of SF residents appeared to be at nutritional risk. Five months after a 12-h staff nutrition education programme, no objective changes were seen in the nutritional status of the SF residents.

Sponsorship:

Supported by grants from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and by the Swedish Research Council.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the Stockholm South-West Health Care Region, from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and from the Swedish Research Council. The work was carried out in co-operation with the Brännkyrka District Council. We thank Mrs Eyra Granström, Mr Göran Henriksson, Mrs Maj-Lis Styrwolt, Mrs Marianne Popovski, Mrs Eeva Eriksson and Mrs Sonia Mattsson for their committed involvement in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurotec, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden

    G Faxén-Irving & T Cederholm

  2. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden

    G Faxén-Irving & T Cederholm

  3. Department of Clinical Nutrition, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

    B Andrén-Olsson

  4. Department of Oncology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden

    A Geijerstam

  5. Clinical Science, AstraZeneca, Södertälje, Sweden

    H Basun

Authors
  1. G Faxén-Irving
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  2. B Andrén-Olsson
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  3. A Geijerstam
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  4. H Basun
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  5. T Cederholm
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G Faxén-Irving.

Additional information

Guarantor: T Cederholm.

Contributors: All authors have been engaged in the planning of the study. GF-I, BA-O and AG performed the examinations at the SF complexes. GF-I, BA-O, AG and TC were engaged in the education programme. GF-I performed the data analysis. GF-I, TC and HB completed the analyses, and took part in the writing process and final compilation of the manuscript.

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Faxén-Irving, G., Andrén-Olsson, B., Geijerstam, A. et al. Nutrition education for care staff and possible effects on nutritional status in residents of sheltered accomodation. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 947–954 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602163

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602163

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