Background: Nursing home patients at nutritional risk are often not identified, nor given entitled nutritional treatment. One approach proven suitable to facilitate change in clinical practise is participatory action research (PAR). This is a process which involves research participants in reflection, planning, action, observation, assessing and re-planning, targeted to bring about change. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a PAR project resulted in improved documentation of nutritional care in a nursing home ward. Method and sample: A quantitative evaluation. Documentation of the nutritional information was collected from medical records of residents in a nursing home ward at baseline and five months into the project period. Results: Increased documentation of individual nutritional treatment measures was found from baseline to the follow-up. The number of residents with a nutritional care plan (NCP) also increased significantly. On the other hand, the study identified a significant decrease in the proportion of residents with documented weight and nutritional status. Conclusion: The evaluation found several improvements in the documentation of nutritional care practice in the nursing home ward as a result of the PAR project, indicating that a PAR approach is suitable to bring about change in practice.
Background: Interprofessional experience is vitally important for nutrition students, as nutritionists often find themselves working independently in a team with other professionals. Few studies have explored qualitatively how nutrition students perceive learning activities in an interprofessional setting.Methods and Findings: Third-year bachelor’s degree nutrition students participated in a focus group interview after interprofessional learning in a nursing home. A qualitative study with a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach was conducted to investigate lived experiences. One theme emerged from the data analysis: A professional understanding of oneself and others. Being acknowledged as a professional, being an active participant, and collaborating to enhance resident care were revealed as sub-themes.Conclusions: A short period of interprofessional learning in an authentic setting may expand students’ experiences and enhance professional confidence.
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