“Meal realities” — An ethnographic exploration of hospital mealtime environment and practice

Ottrey, Ella; Porter, Judi; Huggins, Catherine E.; Palermo, Claire

doi:10.1111/jan.13477

Cited by 29 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…A more coordinated and collaborative approach at mealtimes could be promoted by establishing forums to discuss the delivery of nutrition care; dedicated, interprofessional, collectively‐competent mealtime teams; and nutrition champions to enact positive mealtime strategies (Fabbruzzo‐Cota et al, ; Tappenden et al, ). We have shown that engagement of volunteers and visitors could also support positive mealtime experiences and staff work practices (Ottrey, Palermo, et al, ). Improved reporting systems that elevate mealtime and foodservice issues to higher operational levels could help to drive system‐wide practice changes (Tucker & Edmondson, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The present study was part of a larger research project exploring mealtime culture, environment, and social practice from the perspective of staff, volunteers, and visitors in subacute care (Ottrey, Porter, Huggins, & Palermo, ). The contributions of volunteers and visitors have been reported elsewhere (Ottrey, Palermo, Huggins, & Porter, ). The aim of the present study was to explore the relationships, roles, and responsibilities of staff involved at hospital mealtimes, and their impact on nutrition care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ward culture and staff relationships at hospital mealtimes in Australia: An ethnographic account

Ottrey

Porter

Huggins

et al. 2018

Nursing & Health Sciences

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Nutrition care is a fundamental component of quality health care provided to patients in hospital, yet little is known about the staff who deliver this care and their interrelationships, and how this impacts nutrition care. In this ethnographic study on two subacute wards, 67 h of fieldwork was conducted over 3 months to explore the relationships, roles, and responsibilities of those involved at mealtimes, and the influence on meal provision. Data were analyzed inductively and thematically. Three themes describing ward culture and staff relationships emerged: (i) defining mealtime roles and maintaining boundaries; (ii) balancing the need for teamwork and having time and space; and (iii) effective communication supports role completion and problem solving. Lack of appreciation of workflow enablers and barriers degraded working relationships between staff with and without central roles at mealtimes. The present study informs health-care organizations on building a culture that supports interprofessional collaboration in nutrition care in the subacute setting. All staff need to be aware of their and others' mealtime roles and responsibilities to support a coordinated approach.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ward culture and staff relationships at hospital mealtimes in Australia: An ethnographic account

Ottrey

Porter

Huggins

et al. 2018

Nursing & Health Sciences

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Lack of time was repeatedly identified as an issue among our participants and is a well‐established barrier for quality nutritional care . Studies have reported that healthcare professionals experience a tension between ‘person‐centredness’ and ‘the system’ because hectic work and structural barriers negatively affect their ability to provide quality person‐centred nutritional care .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Hospital nurses and home care providers’ experiences of participation in nutritional care among older persons and their family caregivers: a qualitative study

Hestevik

Molin

Bergland

et al. 2019

J Human Nutrition Diet

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Background A person‐centred approach to nutritional care has the potential to increase an older person’s role in making informed decisions about their own care and possibly improving their quality of life. However, despite the considerable interest shown in person‐centred nutritional care in recent years, delivery of such care still appears to lack consideration for older persons’ needs and preferences. The present study aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ views on how older persons and their family caregivers participate in decisions about their own nutritional care and possible barriers for that participation. Methods Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with 23 healthcare professionals in acute geriatric care and home care were conducted. Data were analysed thematically. Results The analysis of the interviews resulted in three main themes: (i) lack of shared decision‐making in nutritional care; (ii) conflict between patient’s preferences and standard nutritional care procedures; and (iii) the value of family caregivers who are seldom involved in nutritional care. Conclusions Healthcare professionals were aware of the importance of actively engaging older persons and their family members in the nutritional care to achieve positive outcomes. However, they encountered individual and structural barriers, including resistance from patients and family caregivers, conflicts between the patients’ nutritional wishes and standard nutritional procedures, a wish to shield the family caregivers from the stress of caring for a sick relative, and lack of time and caring structures that facilitate the older persons and their family’s active participation.

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“…It was shown that a calm and appealing environment could give dignity to humans when eating together with strangers in the hospital. Hence, environments shared with well‐known fellow patients had the potential to personalize the mealtime activity and create a new kind of deinstitutionalized relationship with the staff (Ottrey et al, ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is a growing interest in the patients’ experiences of mealtimes in hospitals to improve the existing hospital mealtime situation. Several studies have explored hospital mealtime experiences using various methods of collecting empirical data (Holst, Mortensen, Jacobsen, & Rasmussen, ; Lassen, Kruse, & Bjerrum, ; Naithani, Whelan, Thomas, Gulliford, & Morgan, ; Ottrey, Porter, Huggins, & Palermo, ). However, research on the neurological context of patients’ experiences of hospital mealtimes is sparse.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospital meals are existential asylums to hospitalized people with a neurological disease: A phenomenological–hermeneutical explorative study of the meaningfulness of mealtimes

et al. 2019

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Aim Hospital meals are challenging for neurological patients. Patients struggle with both physical eating disabilities and social issues during mealtimes. The aim of this study was to examine the meaningfulness of the phenomenon of hospital meals for hospitalized patients with a neurological disease. Design Interviews ( N = 23) with neurological patients were analysed and interpreted to gain in‐depth comprehensive knowledge of the phenomenon of hospital mealtimes. Method Data were analysed and interpreted in a three‐phased process using a phenomenological–hermeneutic approach inspired by Paul Ricouer. Results Four themes were identified: (a) A lonely ride together with others; (b) Letting the chaotic setting fade into the background; (c) Mechanical activity with great personal significance; and (d) Humanizing the setting when eating in the hospital. Mealtimes were supporting existential moments to patients. Offering a calm mealtime setting was experienced by the patients as an asylum where uplifting and comforting feelings were raised.

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“Meal realities” — An ethnographic exploration of hospital mealtime environment and practice

Cited by 29 publications

References 49 publications

Ward culture and staff relationships at hospital mealtimes in Australia: An ethnographic account

Ward culture and staff relationships at hospital mealtimes in Australia: An ethnographic account

Hospital nurses and home care providers’ experiences of participation in nutritional care among older persons and their family caregivers: a qualitative study

Hospital meals are existential asylums to hospitalized people with a neurological disease: A phenomenological–hermeneutical explorative study of the meaningfulness of mealtimes

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