Observational study of the relationship between nurse staffing levels and compliance with mandatory nutritional assessments in hospital

Authors: Recio-Saucedo, A. et al.

Journal: Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Volume: 34

Issue: 4

Pages: 679-686

eISSN: 1365-277X

ISSN: 0952-3871

DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12847

Abstract:

Background: In the UK, it is recommended that hospital patients have their nutritional status assessed within 24 h of admission using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). The present study aimed to examine the association between nurse staffing levels and missed nutritional status assessments. Methods: A single-centre, retrospective, observational study was employed using routinely collected MUST assessments from 32 general adult hospital wards over 2 years, matched to ward nurse staffing levels. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to control for ward characteristics and patient factors. Results: Of 43 451 instances where staffing levels could be linked to a patient for whom an assessment was due, 21.4% had no MUST score recorded within 24 h of admission. Missed assessments varied between wards (8–100%). There was no overall association between registered nurse staffing levels and missed assessments; although higher admissions per registered nurse were associated with more missed assessments [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, P = 0.005]. Higher healthcare assistant staffing was associated with lower rates of missed assessments (OR = 0.80, P < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between registered nurses and healthcare assistants staffing levels (OR = 0.97, P = 0.011). Conclusions: Despite a written hospital policy requiring a nutritional assessment within 24 h of admission, missed assessments were common. The observed results show that compliance with the policy for routine MUST assessments within 24 h of hospital admission is sensitive to staffing levels and workload. This has implications for planning nurse staffing.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35036/

Source: Scopus

Observational study of the relationship between nurse staffing levels and compliance with mandatory nutritional assessments in hospital.

Authors: Recio-Saucedo, A., Smith, G.B., Redfern, O., Maruotti, A., Griffiths, P. and Missed Care Study Group

Journal: J Hum Nutr Diet

Volume: 34

Issue: 4

Pages: 679-686

eISSN: 1365-277X

DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12847

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In the UK, it is recommended that hospital patients have their nutritional status assessed within 24 h of admission using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). The present study aimed to examine the association between nurse staffing levels and missed nutritional status assessments. METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective, observational study was employed using routinely collected MUST assessments from 32 general adult hospital wards over 2 years, matched to ward nurse staffing levels. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to control for ward characteristics and patient factors. RESULTS: Of 43 451 instances where staffing levels could be linked to a patient for whom an assessment was due, 21.4% had no MUST score recorded within 24 h of admission. Missed assessments varied between wards (8-100%). There was no overall association between registered nurse staffing levels and missed assessments; although higher admissions per registered nurse were associated with more missed assessments [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, P = 0.005]. Higher healthcare assistant staffing was associated with lower rates of missed assessments (OR = 0.80, P < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between registered nurses and healthcare assistants staffing levels (OR = 0.97, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a written hospital policy requiring a nutritional assessment within 24 h of admission, missed assessments were common. The observed results show that compliance with the policy for routine MUST assessments within 24 h of hospital admission is sensitive to staffing levels and workload. This has implications for planning nurse staffing.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35036/

Source: PubMed

Observational study of the relationship between nurse staffing levels and compliance with mandatory nutritional assessments in hospital

Authors: Recio-Saucedo, A., Smith, G.B., Redfern, O., Maruotti, A. and Griffiths, P.

Journal: JOURNAL OF HUMAN NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

Volume: 34

Issue: 4

Pages: 679-686

eISSN: 1365-277X

ISSN: 0952-3871

DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12847

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35036/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Observational study of the relationship between nurse staffing levels and compliance with mandatory nutritional assessments in hospital.

Authors: Recio-Saucedo, A., Smith, G.B., Redfern, O., Maruotti, A., Griffiths, P. and Missed Care Study Group

Journal: Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association

Volume: 34

Issue: 4

Pages: 679-686

eISSN: 1365-277X

ISSN: 0952-3871

DOI: 10.1111/jhn.12847

Abstract:

Background

In the UK, it is recommended that hospital patients have their nutritional status assessed within 24 h of admission using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). The present study aimed to examine the association between nurse staffing levels and missed nutritional status assessments.

Methods

A single-centre, retrospective, observational study was employed using routinely collected MUST assessments from 32 general adult hospital wards over 2 years, matched to ward nurse staffing levels. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to control for ward characteristics and patient factors.

Results

Of 43 451 instances where staffing levels could be linked to a patient for whom an assessment was due, 21.4% had no MUST score recorded within 24 h of admission. Missed assessments varied between wards (8-100%). There was no overall association between registered nurse staffing levels and missed assessments; although higher admissions per registered nurse were associated with more missed assessments [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, P = 0.005]. Higher healthcare assistant staffing was associated with lower rates of missed assessments (OR = 0.80, P < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between registered nurses and healthcare assistants staffing levels (OR = 0.97, P = 0.011).

Conclusions

Despite a written hospital policy requiring a nutritional assessment within 24 h of admission, missed assessments were common. The observed results show that compliance with the policy for routine MUST assessments within 24 h of hospital admission is sensitive to staffing levels and workload. This has implications for planning nurse staffing.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35036/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

Observational study of the relationship between nurse staffing levels and compliance with mandatory nutritional assessments in hospital.

Authors: Recio-Saucedo, A., Smith, G.B., Redfern, O., Maruotti, A., Griffiths, P. and Missed Care Study Group

Journal: Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics

Volume: 34

Issue: 4

Pages: 679-686

ISSN: 0952-3871

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In the UK, it is recommended that hospital patients have their nutritional status assessed within 24 h of admission using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). The present study aimed to examine the association between nurse staffing levels and missed nutritional status assessments. METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective, observational study was employed using routinely collected MUST assessments from 32 general adult hospital wards over 2 years, matched to ward nurse staffing levels. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to control for ward characteristics and patient factors. RESULTS: Of 43 451 instances where staffing levels could be linked to a patient for whom an assessment was due, 21.4% had no MUST score recorded within 24 h of admission. Missed assessments varied between wards (8-100%). There was no overall association between registered nurse staffing levels and missed assessments; although higher admissions per registered nurse were associated with more missed assessments [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, P = 0.005]. Higher healthcare assistant staffing was associated with lower rates of missed assessments (OR = 0.80, P < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between registered nurses and healthcare assistants staffing levels (OR = 0.97, P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a written hospital policy requiring a nutritional assessment within 24 h of admission, missed assessments were common. The observed results show that compliance with the policy for routine MUST assessments within 24 h of hospital admission is sensitive to staffing levels and workload. This has implications for planning nurse staffing.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/35036/

Source: BURO EPrints