Objectives: To identify the rate of unintentional weight loss (UWL) in adults following their admission into residential healthcare facilities, assess the effectiveness of a new medical nutrition therapy (MNT) protocol for the prevention and treatment of UWL, and describe nutrition assessment and intervention activities of dietitians.
Design: Prospective intervention study in which volunteer dietitians were randomly assigned to usual nutrition care (UC) or MNT protocol care (MNT-PC) groups. Dietitians recruited newly admitted residents and tracked their weights for up to 6 months using standardized weighing procedures. Data on weight outcomes and nutrition care activities were abstracted from medical records and compared between study groups. Subjects/settings Thirty-one dietitians from 29 facilities completed the field test (16 MNT-PC, 13 UC). Medical record data were available for 394 residents (223 MNT-PC, 171 UC), and complete weight trend data were available for 364 residents (200 MNT-PC, 164 UC).
Intervention: The new MNT protocol for UWL in residential facilities emphasized assessment; intervention (including weighing frequency); communication with staff, medical doctor, family, and resident; and reassessment. Main outcome measures Rate of UWL and weight status 90 days after admission and weight status 90 days after identification of UWL. Statistical analyses Chi;(2), Independent t test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression using the general linear model.
Results: Fourteen of 364 residents (4%) were admitted with significant preexisting weight loss, which was successfully treated in eight residents during the first 90 days. Substantial unintentional weight loss (>or=5% in any 30 days) developed in 78 residents (21%). MNT-PC dietitians were more likely to identify UWL. When UWL was identified, and, after providing nutrition care to these residents for an additional 90 days, 32 of 61 residents (52%) maintained or gained weight. Dietitians in UC and MNT-PC groups were equally successful in treating preexisting or postadmission unintentional weight loss when it was identified. Differences were found in nutrition care activities. MNT-PC dietitians reported more nutrition assessment activities, whereas UC dietitians reported more intervention activities. Conclusions/applications Nutrition care protocols with standardized weighing procedures can increase the identification of UWL in the residential healthcare environment. Improved identification supports the additional assessment activities used by MNT-PC dietitians. Similar outcomes for UC and MNT-PC groups when UWL was identified indicate that usual nutrition care was already a high standard of care for intervention.