Background and objective: Hospital and home care nurses and nursing assistants do not provide optimal nutritional care to older adults, which is due to several factors that influence their current behaviour. To successfully target these factors, we developed a microlearning intervention. The next step is to assess its feasibility to achieve the best fit with nursing practice. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of the microlearning intervention about nutritional care for older adults provided by hospital and home care nurses and nursing assistants. Methods: In a multicentre study, we used a mixed-methods design. Feasibility was determined by assessing 1) recruitment and retention of the participants and 2) the acceptability, compliance and delivery of the intervention. Data about the use of the intervention (consisting of 30 statements), and data from a standardised questionnaire and two focus group interviews were used to measure the feasibility outcomes. Results: Fourteen teams with a total of 306 participants (response rate: 89.7%) completed the intervention and the median (Q1, Q3) score for completed statements per participant was 23 (12, 28). The mean proportion of correct answers was 72.2%. Participants were both positive and constructive about the intervention. They confirmed that they mostly learned from the intervention. Overall, the intervention was acceptable to the participants and compliance and delivery was adequate. Conclusions: The microlearning intervention is mostly feasible for hospital and home care nurses and nursing assistants. Based on participants’ constructive feedback, we consider that the intervention needs refinement to improve its feasibility.
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Aims and objectives: To gain insight into the experiences and perceptions of hospital and home care nurses regarding nutritional care for older adults to prevent and treat malnutrition. Background: In-depth knowledge about hospital and home care nurses’ experiences and perceptions can contribute to optimise nutritional care for older adults across the care continuum between hospital and home to prevent and treat malnutrition. Design: Multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study. Method: A validated questionnaire addressing malnutrition was used. A total of 1,135 questionnaires were sent to hospital and home care nurses. The STROBE statement was followed for reporting. Results: The response rate was 49% (n = 556). Of all the nurses, 37% perceived the prevalence of malnutrition among their care recipients between 10% and 25%. Almost 22% of the nurses neither agreed nor disagreed or disagreed with the statement that prevention of malnutrition is possible. More than 28% of the nurses reported that malnutrition is a small or no problem. Over 95% of the hospital nurses and 52.5% of the home care nurses stated they screened routinely for malnutrition. The nurses considered several interventions for treating malnutrition important. Over 81% of the nurses indicated they wanted to follow further training. Conclusion: Most hospital and home care nurses perceived that nutritional care for older adults to prevent and treat malnutrition was important. A fair group of nurses, however, had the opposite perception. Relevance to clinical practice: Raising the awareness of all hospital and home care nurses about the importance of nutritional care for older adults is pivotal to increase the chance of successfully providing nursing nutritional care. Nurses should follow training for consolidation of nutritional care. Nurses are well-positioned to take a leadership role to improve continuity and quality of nutritional care across the care continuum between hospital and home.
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Purpose: To describe nurses' support interventions for medication adherence, and patients' experiences and desired improvements with this care. Patients and methods: A two-phase study was performed, including an analysis of questionnaire data and conducted interviews with members of the care panel of the Netherlands Patients Federation. The questionnaire assessed 14 types of interventions, satisfaction (score 0-10) with received interventions, needs, experiences, and desired improvements in nurses' support. Interviews further explored experiences and improvements. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a thematic analysis approach. Results: Fifty-nine participants completed the questionnaire, and 14 of the 59 participants were interviewed. The satisfaction score for interventions was 7.9 (IQR 7-9). The most common interventions were: "noticing when I don't take medication as prescribed" (n = 35), "helping me to find solutions to overcome problems with using medications" (n = 32), "helping me with taking medication" (n = 32), and "explaining the importance of taking medication at the right moment" (n = 32). Fifteen participants missed ≥1 of the 14 interventions. Most mentioned the following: "regularly asking about potential problems with medication use" (33%), "regularly discussing whether using medication is going well" (29%), and "explaining the importance of taking medication at the right moment" (27%). Twenty-two participants experienced the following as positive: improved self-management of adequate medication taking, a professional patient-nurse relationship to discuss adherence problems, and nurses' proactive attitude to arrange practical support for medication use. Thirteen patients experienced the following as negative: insufficient timing of home visits, rushed appearance of nurses, and insufficient expertise about side effects and taking medication. Suggested improvements included performing home visits on time, more time for providing support in medication use, and more expertise about side effects and administering medication. Conclusion: Overall, participants were satisfied, and few participants wanted more interventions. Nurses' support improved participants' self-management of medication taking and enabled patients to discuss their adherence problems. Adequately timed home visits, more time for support, and accurate medication-related knowledge are desired.
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