Effects of Nutritional Intervention in Long-Term Care in Korea

Abstract

Institutionalized older adults are known to be at high risk of malnutrition, but few nutritional interventions have been used for older adults in long-term care (LTC) settings. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of implementing a nutritional intervention involving nursing staff education, facilitation, and a shared algorithm (NIEFA) for institutionalized older adults in Korea. A quasi-experimental pre- and posttest design was used. Patients in two LTC facilities were assigned to an intervention (n = 23) or control (n = 22) group. After completion of the 4-week NIEFA program, significant improvements were found in the intervention group's daily energy intake (t = 3.832, p < 0.001), total lymphocytes (t = 3.87, p < 0.001), hemoglobin levels (t = 4.991, p < 0.001), hematocrit levels (t = 4.305, p < 0.001), and Mini Nutritional Assessment scores (t = 10.223, p < 0.001). Implementation of NIEFA in a LTC facility may be effective in improving the nutritional status of older adults with or at risk of malnutrition.