Barriers and opportunities of nutrition screening in elderly patients in Malaysian health clinic setting

• Main Authors: Sheikh Hishamuddin, Siti Nur Amirah, Hamirudin, Aliza Haslinda, Harith, Sakinah, Md Aris, Mohd Aznan, Abd. Aziz, Karimah Hanim, A Rashid, Nurul Syaireen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2021
• Subjects: RM216 Diet Therapy. Clinical Nutrition
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/94019/1/3rd%20WCII%20_Published%20abstract.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/94019/; https://medic.upm.edu.my/jurnal_kami/malaysian_journal_of_medicine_and_health_sciences_mjmhs-9255?L=en
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Introduction: Malnutrition identification among community-living elderly through nutrition screening is not routinely performed in Malaysian health clinics, although it is recommended to be performed routinely in all healthcare setting. Meanwhile, current health screening practice need to be improvised for malnutrition identification. Thus, this study aimed to identify barriers and opportunities of nutrition screening in elderly patients in health clinic setting. Materials and method: This study was conducted among healthcare staff from urban and rural health clinics in Kuantan, Pahang who were recruited for in-depth individual interview. Non-participant observations on elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) attending health clinics that act as triangulation were conducted to identify barriers and opportunities of nutrition screening within clinic workflow. Both of the data were analysed thematically by using NVivo software version 12.0. Results: Twenty healthcare staff involving medical officers (n=6), medical assistants (n=8), staff nurses (n=4), and community nurses (n=2) with the mean age of 33.65 ±6.27 were interviewed. Frequency of working experience were: <5 years (15.0%), 5 to 10 years (45.0%), 10 to 20 years (35.0%) and >20 years (5.0%). Meanwhile, 21 elderly patients involved in non-participant observations. Themes emerged for barriers and opportunities are 1)Time 2)Patient factors 3)Organization factors and 4)Nutrition screening knowledge. Conclusion: Incorporation of validated nutrition screening tool into current health screening practices is the most feasible way to perform nutrition screening. Besides, nutrition screening can be routinely performed according to health clinics system. Provision of specific nutrition screening guideline using technology-based version could help in implementation for malnutrition identification.