Aims
Malnutrition is highly prevalent in the oncology population, resulting in many adverse clinical outcomes for patients and health services. An evidence based malnutrition screening, assessment and treatment strategy has been successfully piloted in an acute oncology setting, proving to be an efficient and effective model of care achieving significant positive clinical and financial outcomes. This study aimed to determine if the positive outcomes achieved during the pilot project were sustained 12 months post-implementation.
Methods
Comparisons of clinical outcomes from the pilot of a new model of nutritional care completed in 2010 were made to audit data collected over a 12 month period post-implementation.
Results
Malnutrition screening rates on admission of patients admitted for >1 day remained high 12 months post-implementation (95% during the pilot compared to 93% 12 months post), and positive improvements were seen in weekly rescreen rates (66% during the pilot compared to 94% 12 months post). The percentage of patients under the care of the dietitian who maintained/improved their nutritional status during their admission remained stable (85% in both pilot and 12 months post). Median length of stay of malnourished patients continued to decrease over time (8.0 days in pilot compared to 7.3 days 12 months post). The number of patients coded for malnutrition increased (average 75 patients/month in pilot compared to average 83 patients/month 12 months post) resulting in increased reimbursements directly attributable to malnutrition coding (average A$51,000/month in pilot compared to average A$61,000/month 12 months post).
Conclusions
This study demonstrates the positive clinical and financial outcomes that were sustained 12 months following the implementation of a structured malnutrition strategy in the acute oncology setting. This work provides valuable insight into effective methods for treating malnutrition, sustaining nutrition care practice and producing positive health outcomes in an acute oncology setting.
Contact email – Belinda.Steer@petermac.org